KEEPING the town safe is a priority of the police ? but the public should not be complacent, and ensure they report any incidents, however trivial.

That was the message when Inspector Dai Antill met Okehampton Town Council members last week.

He asked for assistance and public support in informing the police when a crime was committed.

Okehampton mayor Christine Marsh felt the police visit was very helpful, with councillors able to pass on many of the public?s concerns and questions.

She said there did seem to be an increase in vandalism at present.

?No matter how trivial the thing people must tell the police because otherwise the facts will remain unrecorded. Let?s keep our town safe ? don?t sit back or the police will think there are no statistics because their figures won?t reflect any.?

Insp Antill told councillors West Devon still had the lowest levels of violence in the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary.

A total of 91 offences of assault have been reported in Okehampton in the last ten months ? with six in January and six in February.

Insp Antill said many offences were alcohol-related ? and weekends were, ?unsurprisingly, peak times?.

Insp Antill said: ?Weekend kicking out times are policed with high visibility patrols and police vans parked at strategic points with officers on foot to prevent potential problems.

?While any crime is one too many, and for each crime there is a victim, the volume of crime remains low. Okehampton town crime equates to about 1.5 total crimes per day.?

Insp Antill wished to point out to parents that if their youths were out committing vandalism it was the parents who were paying for repairs through taxes. ?Do they know where and what their children are doing?? he said.

Starting from April he said there would be a new structure as part of force realignment and commitment to neighbourhood policing.

Cllr Marsh said there had been complaints about the lack of policemen on the beat. ?They are not as visible as they used to be but times have changed and the paper work is astronomical.?

She said parents should be responsible for their children and added the town council was actively trying to find suitable premises for youngsters to go after school hours.

?There isn?t anywhere for them to hang out. Perhaps it would be nice for one of the cafes to stay open so they could go and drink coffee.?