RECORDED crime figures in Tavistock dropped by 14% in 2015 according to Tavistock Police.

425 criminal offences were reported in Tavistock in 2015, compared with 495 in 2014.

Robbery was down by 100% with zero offences reported in the last year. Non-dwelling burglaries were down by 44.8% with only 16 incidents reported in 2015, compared to 29 in 2014. One more burglary of a home was reported in the last year compared to 2014.

Violent offences had also increased in 2015 – there were 62 violent offences resulting in injury last year, compared with 58 in 2014. Violent offences without injury had also increased by 23.6%, with 68 offences in 2015 and 55 in 2014.

The figures were provided to the Times by West Devon sector inspector Mark Sloman. Inspector Sloman said: ’The increase in violence is the same over the Devon and Cornwall constabulary. Dog crime attacks on members of the public have risen in Tavistock and are recorded as acts of violence.

’Members of the public can report crime using the 101 system – it has some issues but a large sum of money, I think it is £250,000, has recently been put aside to improve the system. People are now not only able to go to the police station or call the 101 number to report crime, they can report incidents on the website and on social media.’

Crimes relating to antisocial behaviour had also dropped by 11.3%, with 1,562 incidents reported in 2014 and 1,386 in 2015.

Antisocial behaviour offences decreased by 15.4%, public safety incidents dropped by 10.4% and transport related offences also dropped by 6.8% with 324 in 2014 and 302 in 2015.