New research from Confused.com reveals that nearly half of Brits (49%) keep a household item as weapon to defend themselves from burglars – as pots and pans take on a whole different purpose. The findings from the leading insurance price comparison site reveal that of those who admit to owning some form of weapon, two-thirds (66%) are not afraid to use it in self-defence against an intruder in the event of a break-in. And the most popular household item to double-up as a weapon? A baseball or cricket bat (16%), closely followed by a heavy tool of some sort (12%). However, some people will...
The performance of Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer and the Devon and Cornwall force is scrutinised in the first of a series of publicly viewable one-to-one meetings with Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg.
The PCC holds the Chief Constable to account for the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan. The correct mechanism to achieve this in a structured, comprehensive and transparent way is being developed, and part of this includes regular meetings that will be viewable by the public in full.
The first part of the June interview covers four main areas:
Following a disproportionate increase in the theft of bicycles in Exeter, local police are urging bike owners to ensure that their bike security meets the standard. Over 120 bikes have been stolen in the last 3-months, with an approximate market value of £60,000. Reports suggest that most stolen bikes are either sold on, or exchanged for drugs.
“Thieves targeting the city centre are presented with a higher concentration of parked bikes, possibly due to people commuting to work and shops” said PCSO Martin Pascoe. “We urge cyclists around the city to ensure their bikes are adequately...
Devon and Cornwall Police take DNA samples from 19 children every week, figures obtained by the Howard League for Penal Reform reveal today (20 May 2013).
New research by the charity has found that Devon and Cornwall officers took swabs from 1,009 boys and girls aged 17 or under during 2011.
They included 18 primary school-age children – five 10-year-olds and 13 11-year-olds.
Across England and Wales, police took swabs from almost 54,000 boys and girls aged 17 or under during 2011.
They included at least 368 10-year-olds and 1,030 11-year-olds, meaning that...
A record number of children have been safeguarded from sexual abusers in the past year, figures from the UK’s leading child protection agency reveal today. In 2012/2013, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre safeguarded and protected 790 children – an increase of 85 per cent on the previous year, and the highest yearly figure since the Centre launched in 2006. It now brings the total number of protected children to 2,255 in its seven-year history. Figures in its Annual Review and Centre Plan also reveal that CEOP dealt with 18,887 reports of abuse from the public and...
Police in Crediton have issued an ‘Evofit’ of a suspect they wish to identify following two house burglaries in the town. The two incidents occurred between 2.00pm and 3.30pm on Monday 29 April in Clifford Gardens, Crediton. In the first incident the offender entered a flat via an insecure door and following a search some cash totalling £15 was stolen from a purse and container. In the second incident at 3.30pm the offender entered another property via an insecure front door. Following a tidy search a purse containing approximately £120 cash was stolen. The elderly female occupant...
Wherever I go, people ask me whether I am enjoying being the Police and Crime Commissioner. I always tell them that enjoying is probably the wrong word. Relishing? Yes! Challenged? Definitely! Enjoying? I suspect that will only come when the impact of decisions I make is really felt, and Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is even safer than it already is.
I’m lucky to be PCC for this region. Yes, it’s one of the largest policing patches in the country. It faces considerable resourcing challenges to cover urban, rural and coastal issues, but I am impressed generally by the...
Magistrates in Devon and Cornwall are more than twice as likely to send someone to prison as courts in other parts of the country, figures obtained by the Howard League for Penal Reform reveal today (22 April).
New research by the charity shows that people who have been convicted of a crime in England and Wales face a postcode lottery when they are sentenced.
A growing number of magistrates’ benches are making good use of community sentences which reduce crime and help people to turn their lives around.
However, some benches are still imposing prison sentences in...
Christopher Copeland aged 51 years from Copplestone, near Crediton has today, Wednesday 17 April been charged with 16 counts of fraud by false representation in connection with the Help for Heroes Charity.
He has been released on bail to appear before Exeter Magistrates Court on Wednesday 8 May.
