Sidmouth defecator is police matter - say clean up team

DISTRICT council bosses say incidents in which human faeces has been found in a Sidmouth public space is a police matter - but hope the culprit is caught with their pants down.

The Herald reported last week how residents and PCSOs were disgusted after excrement was repeatedly found at the Ham, only yards from a kids’ play area.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) workers had to clean up the mess - on a footpath that runs along the River Sid - following the latest incident in which the offender left a trail of soiled toilet paper.

An EDDC spokesman said: “Street Scene has been down to clear up one lot of mess on the Ham, but we haven’t had any other calls to do with anything else.”

He added the council’s environmental health team was not involved, but it was a police matter because it was “more about the fact someone who is doing this is breaking the law by taking their trousers down”.

“That is the thing that is illegal,” said the spokesman. “It is up to the police to catch people doing it,” he added.

PCSOs vowed to increase patrols in the area and urged residents to contact police if they witness any suspicious behaviour.