No crimes reported in Exeter for two weeks

The Devon and Cornwall Police press office has reported no crimes in Exeter since before December 17.

There is not a single recorded incident in the city over a two week period.

Questions were today raised as to why so little is reported.

And the new Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg was urged to look into the situation.

Marc Astley, the editorial director of The Exeter Daily and former editor of the Express & Echo newspaper said he found the situation "highly unusual".

"Exeter residents will be well aware that crimes are taking place and that police officers have been working hard over the festive period spending long spells away from their families," Marc said.

"It is therefore highly unusual that not a single one of these incidents have been publicy recorded.

"I know the force has a policy of reducing the fear of crime but to give the impression that nothing of any note has happened in two weeks is ludicrous.

"The tax payer deserves to know how their money is being spent fighting crime. I think the new Police and Crime Commissioner, Tony Hogg, should look into this."

The lack of crimes being reported came as a police force announced it is abolishing the rank of chief inspector in a bid to put more bobbies back on the beat.

Pat Geenty, the chief constable of Wiltshire, said he had taken the decision to axe the rank in a bid to “reduce bureaucracy” and to “close the gap” between top brass and frontline officers.

Other senior ranks, and senior civilian roles, could be eliminated in the future, he added.

Mr Geenty said: “I want to create an empowered workforce where our staff feel capable and confident in making decisions that ultimately have the best interests of the public in mind.

“That means flattening our structure, reducing bureaucracy and closing the gap between what is happening on the front line and what is being said at a leadership level.”
Wiltshire’s 20 chief inspectors are expected to be lost through natural wastage, he said.

A spokesman for the force confirmed that the measure was expected to lead to more officers on the beat, although he was unable to say how many. With 1,060 officers in total Wiltshire is one of the smallest forces in England and Wales.

* See also, a quiet Christmas for police http://www.theexeterdaily.co.uk/news/local-news/quiet-christmas-police-a...