THE Post area’s sector inspector for Devon and Cornwall Police, Julian Morris was on hand at the latest Camelford Community Network Panel meeting on November 26, to deliver a review of the last 12 months in the town and surrounding areas.

Insp Morris said: “We’ve had a slight increase of 0.5% which is two crimes. There’s been 434 this year compared to 432 last year.When you break that down, it’s just eight a week on average.”

Insp Morris then broke it down even further, adding: “There’s been a slight increase in burglaries, 21 from eight, but over 12 months that doesn’t account for a huge crime wave.

“Violence has also gone down by 7% and that’s echoed across the sector and a lot of that is down to talking to repeat offenders. We try and look at repeat perpetrators and it’s the reason it’s gone down.

“In Camelford, anti-social behaviour has been a focus, especially in Enfield Park. A primary task force has been set up and there are now dispersal zones. We can ask the, to leave the area for 24 or 48 hours and it’s helped.We’ll be back on top of that after Christmas.”

Insp Morris also talked about Community Speedwatch and a couple of new officers who locals should know.

He said: “We’ve set up more community speedwatch schemes. St Teath are upping their training. We’re also working with Camelford and Marshgate.

“We’re also losing PCSO Jowan Annear, who’s moving to Bodmin and the speedwatch is down to PCSO Mike Dodd. PC Lee Skinner is taking up the post of neighbourhood beat manager, permanently. He’s coming over from Holsworthy. He has a background in Hampshire and he’ll be an asset to the team.”

The final point from Insp Morris was of the government’s plans to increase police officers across the country.

He said: “The government is providing an uplift in police numbers. There will be an uplift over 140 in this force. By the end of March next year there’ll be 43 extra recruited and 98 by the year. It’s a slow process as it’s a three-year probation process. We’re trying to recruit more and more.”

He was asked what geographical area the extra numbers covered, to which he replied: “This covers the whole force area of Devon and Cornwall. Over four years there’ll probably be an uplift of 450, to get us up to the stage of ten years ago.”