TAVISTOCK police are to extend their neighbourhood policing scheme by introducing four more neighbourhood beat managers on Monday (September 15).

This will take the number of neighbourhood officers to nine, with the aim of improving accessibility and visibility of the police service, particularly in rural communities.

The areas covered by the scheme are Tavistock, Horrabridge, Princetown, Bere Peninsula, Lifton and Yelverton.

Each neighbourhood will have a named and easily identifiable officer responsible for policing their area.

Police surgeries will be set up, inviting the public to visit their local officer at a set time each month and raise their concerns.

The officers will forge strong links with their parish councils and community groups in a bid to reduce crime and provide public reassurance.

The Times will be profiling each of the neighbourhood officers, detailing their backgrounds and the specific problems they will be targeting on their patch.