POLICE officers from Tavistock and Okehampton took part in a high profile campaign this week to try to reduce the fear of crime in West Devon. Operation Everest, held on Tuesday, was to demonstrate the work done to keep the public safe and gain better relationships with the local communities. Violent crime, anti-social behaviour, vandalism, drugs, under-age drinking and traffic offences were tackled. The first 'day of action' in November led to about 350 arrests. Operation Everest mainly centred on the concerns raised through the Partners and Communities Together (PACT) process, introduced just over a year ago. Extra high-visibility patrols were mounted by neighbourhood policing teams while officers conducted operational activity to identify and detect crime, and gather intelligence on criminal networks. Operation Everest is part of a series of 'days of action' planned by the force to demonstrate the range of great work being done to keep the public safe. The days are a real opportunity for people to see how the force respond to their concerns and to foster greater relationships with the police in the communities they serve. Chief constable Stephen Otter and his entire senior management team travelled across the force on Tuesday to support officers and staff in their initiatives and to listen to the views of the public. He said: 'Our last "day of action" was a real success because it very visibly demonstrated how our officers and staff work together to keep the communities of Devon and Cornwall safe. 'Again, for this operation, we will be focusing on those areas that have been raised as particular concerns by the public and where we feel we can make a real difference to people's lives. 'These days of action deliver tangible results that make a difference to people's lives in Devon and Cornwall, but I would like to reassure the public that we are never complacent. 'It is important to remember that the good work being demonstrated during this operation goes on across Devon and Cornwall every day to reduce crime and the fear of crime.' The public can voice their top concerns through PACT postboxes distributed in towns and villages. This, alongside other consultations, enables neighbourhood policing teams to identify the top three priorities for local people, which then form a neighbourhood improvement plan. The police then work with partner agencies, such as the fire service and local councils, to solve the community's problems.
