THE 18 extra police employed in the West Devon and South Hams area in recent months are deployed in the area as a whole, not just Okehampton and Tavistock, Inspector Dave Hammond this week told the Times.

Insp Hammond said the two towns did have additional uniformed officers as a result of recent recruitment, but stressed the total increase, mentioned by Superintendent Sarah Sharpe at a recent meeting of Tavistock Town Council, referred to the whole of the West Devon and South Hams division.