Ottery crime plummets by 30 per cent
CRIME in the Ottery parish has plummeted by 30 per cent in the last year.
CRIME in the Ottery parish has plummeted by 30 per cent in the last year.
Figures revealed last week show that between March 31, 2008 and the beginning of this month, 201 offences were recorded- 80 less than the previous year.
House burglaries rose by two to 12 this year while incidents of public violence fell from 12 to nine- an average of less than one a month.
Anti-social behaviour, litter and speeding issues are Ottery residents' greatest concerns according to PC Phil Thomas.
He said: "One might think crime and fear of crime were popular concerns, however, they rarely appeared (when canvassing residents' opinions throughout the year).
PC Thomas also applauded the affect the addition of new, full-time rural PCSO Steve Trail is having on the neighbourhood policing team.
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He said: "This is assisting us no end as we can now give continuity to local issues which would otherwise be left to their own devices during our time off duty.
"While the Ottery area hasn't been allocated extra police officers, neighbouring stations have. This is having a significant effect because local police are not being abstracted to other areas to deal with more urgent calls."
Crime across Devon fell by 8.2 per cent over the last year from around 54,900 offences to 50,400.
Ottery's police team hopes to take up residence in the Old Convent in Broad Steet in August. It is hoped the move will see the town provided with a police station with 'front of house' staff rather than an office which it currently has.
