East Devon’s Superintendent has said Ottery remains in ‘very capable hands’ after its police sergeant moved to a new role after seven months.

Exmouth’s Sergeant Richard Stonecliffe will be filling in the role after it was announced Sergeant Pete Boorn had taken up the new position.

Sgt Stonecliffe will be in charge of the town’s one police officer and three PCSOs.

At a recent meeting, town councillors voiced their concerns due to recent announcements that the town’s PCSOs may be cut.

Councillor Roger Giles told colleagues that it was ‘not good enough’ as the police team covered a larger area than Ottery.

He added: “We’re hearing that 190 PCSOs are going to create a higher police presence. How is that justified learning that we are losing our sergeant and we are down to a police officer and three PCSOs?

“I think that’s very detrimental and I think we should complain about that.”

Superintendent Sam De Reya, commander for Exeter, East and Mid Devon, said this week the force was currently reviewing resources across the area.

She said: “At the moment, the current Ottery sergeant has been moved temporarily to a response role covering East and Mid Devon and the position is being covered by the very capable East Devon sergeant, Rich Stonecliffe.

“The neighbourhood team is still there working hard, providing local policing in Ottery, along with local response and crime investigation teams.

“A review of resourcing across Exeter, East and Mid Devon is under way, which includes the Ottery sergeant role as part of the overall policing function for the area.

“This is part of a wider review of neighbourhood policing provision and how we connect with our communities in the future.

“The council will be consulted as part of this review.”