GEOFFREY Cox, the Conservative parliamentary prospective candidate for West Devon and Torridge, spent a night on the beat in Tavistock last week, seeing at first hand the problems encountered by police and residents on a Friday night.

Mr Cox was with officers as they responded to calls during the evening and at pub closing time.

He said: ?I was immensely impressed to see the enthusiasm and commitment of our police officers to making Tavistock a safe place for residents at night.

?The calmness and efficiency with which they deal with serious incidents such as a bad accident on the A386 and a young woman taken ill in the centre of town, as well as handling the usual Friday night drunkenness, was a real credit to the Devon and Cornwall force.?

Mr Cox said he had learned a great deal about the problems faced by police in the area and how things could be improved as a result of his night on the beat.

He said police under-manning was a serious issue which he would be taking up with the chief constable.