OKEHAMPTON could benefit from the recent influx of new police officers into the rural south west.

The Government and local police authority have granted funding to the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary to recruit an extra 275 officers over the next three years.

An additional 180 new officers were recruited last year, together with 59 experienced officers who moved from other forces. The force is actively seeking more recruits through adverts in national and local media.

West Devon police commander Chief Inspector Barry Frost has applied to the chief constable, Sir John Evans, for more officers, specifically for Okehampton and the surrounding rural area.

He said:'I would like another five new officers for Okehampton — though whether I get them or not is another thing.'

The chief inspector explained that the problem was not the quantity of work in a place like Okehampton, but the size of the area that had to be covered.

'Tavistock is okay — if we need reinforcements there, we can get them up from Plymouth pretty quickly,' he said. 'But Okehampton is relatively isolated and if we needed extra help it would be pretty difficult.'

Chief Inspector Frost was optimistic about his prospects of getting new officers.

'Nationally, the Government recognises that rural areas have special problems — the robbery in Norfolk where the farmer shot two intruders highlighted the plight of rural communities,' he said. 'It's up to the Chief Constable to prioritise now, but I think Okehampton is a specific case.'

Chief Inspector Frost added that Okehampton was a growing area and the police force would have to keep up with that.

'There are plans to build 2,000 new houses here — that could mean as many as 10,000 more people and I will require extra resources for that, but Okehampton requires these extra officers regardless of that growth, and if the Chief Constable were to give me 10 more officers I'd gladly use them too,' he said.

Okehampton would be unlikely to get raw recruits. The chief inspector said the area was not really suitable for the training of new officers because of its remoteness.

So new officers would be trained elsewhere then come into West Devon as experienced police men and women.

Alison Baker from North Tawton Town Council said policing levels had been a concern of the council for some time and any increase in the number of officers would be welcomed.

'We have a community policeman who we have a good relationship with but he can be hauled off for other duties elsewhere,' she said.

'There is a minimal number of officers on duty at any one time in the area and if someone is arrested and needs to be taken off to custody in Exeter we could be left without any cover.'