WEST Devon has virtually the lowest crime rate in Devon and is one of the safest places to live in England, top level police officers told a public meeting in Tavistock last week.
Deputy chief constable Nigel Arnold told the West Devon police liaison meeting at Tavistock College that Devon and Cornwall Constabulary were not complacent and wanted to work in partnership with others to make the area an even better place to live.
But he said the police faced severe budgetary pressures and even to ?stand still? as far as officer numbers were concerned would cost the average band D council tax payer an extra 85p a week.
To employ a further 70 officers, which was one of the force?s aspirations, would increase the average annual bill by a further £11.
Kay Buckley, a member of Okehampton Chamber of Trade, asked about the distribution of extra officers. She said the chamber, in partnership with the police, was hoping to install CCTV cameras in the town ? but this would be no good without manpower to back up the surveillance.
She was told any extra police would be distributed around the four basic command units, taking into account a wide range of issues, not just crime figures.
West Devon councillor Mandy Govier was sceptical that the extra amount of funding the police were asking for would pay the salaries and ultimately pensions for these extra officers.
She added the borough has cut council tax discount on second homes ? would the police consider putting their share of extra income into community safety work?
Dep Chief Con Arnold said the income would either be spent on community safety initiatives or extra police services.
?In terms of our consultation survey responses, about two thirds expressed the view of wanting more police officers, rather than community based initiatives,? he said.
He was confident that any extra officers could continue to be paid for through effective management of the police budget, in the way the constabulary already dealt with reductions in grants from central government.
And there was a thumbs-up from the police for Tavistock Youth Council, which is fundraising to establish a youth café on land in Pixon Lane.
Ollie Burrows of the youth council?s steering group asked if the café could rely on the support of the police.
Chief Inspector Tony Steer, West Devon district commander, said the community safety partnership, on which the police were key members, had already offered financial help to the project.
?As far as policing is concerned, we are very happy for the local neighbourhood beat officers to be involved,? he said.