POSITIVE police action against disorderly behaviour in Okehampton has resulted in five convictions for first-time offenders.
Officers are hoping this will be a warning to people who are intent on being disruptive.
Inspector Keith Perkin, who promised to take positive action against disorder when he took over the reins at Okehampton Police Station earlier this year, said first-time offenders could no longer get away with a caution.
'The courts are supporting the police in their positive action and if people are intent in being disruptive they will be convicted even if they have not been in trouble
before,' he said.
'The recent arrests on Friday and Saturday nights and resultant convictions are a sign of the positive policing action we are taking.'
Police presence has been stepped up to at least 10 officers on patrol on Friday and Saturday nights and officers include members of the Special Constabulary.
Inspector Perkin said the whole area was benefitting from the increased numbers of police.
'By deploying officers to places like Chagford we are able to reduce the fear of crime because people feel safer when there is an officer around,' he added.
'The special constabulary in Okehampton has been a great help to us.'
Okehampton Chamber of Trade is pleased with the action being taken by police.
It was so concerned with vandalism being caused to shops and businesses recently that it wrote to Chief Constable of the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary Sir John Evans.
Chamber chairman Ian Bailey said seeing more police around was definitely having a positive effect.
'When someone decides to break shop windows in a drunken rage the result is not only an increase in insurance costs for that business but a town full of boarded up windows which does not give a very good image,' he said.
'A high police profile over the weekends can only have a beneficial effect in the long term.'