Devon & Cornwall Police News site

Police in Barnstaple continue to respond to public concerns as they review the latest phase of their operation to tackle speeding drivers, anti-social behaviour, drug dealing and other offences.

Extra arrests were carried out during the four weeks of the operation and officers used a variety of tactics such as high-visibility foot patrols, drugs warrants, test purchase operations and visits to schools to engage with local students about issues affecting them such as drug awareness and knife crime.   

The latest phase of Operation Loki kicked off in mid-March and police officers from the local neighbourhood team, along with colleagues from Roads Policing, Trading Standards, North Devon Council and other units have been carrying out their normal duties, as well as concentrating on the needs identified in the recent public survey.        

Barnstaple Sector Inspector Andy Wills said: “This operation was all about asking the public what they want and trying to deliver it to them as much as possible. The four-week intensification period meant that my hard-working team used a variety of tactics to deal with local issues and concerns. Community engagement is key to local policing and we want people to feel safe when they are out and about.  

“The online survey, as well as public feedback at community engagement events, revealed that the main priority and number one concern for our respondents was speeding drivers, followed by anti-social behaviour, drugs and a few other issues such as bad parking and dog fouling. The survey results helped shape our activity for the last four weeks and, on the whole, the operation has been well received by the public. My team will continue to listen to those who live, work and visit Barnstaple about what they would like us to focus on.       

“There were some issues raised in the survey which do not fall under the remit of the polices, however police have shared the results with partners who can assist in these matters. 

“Police work closely with partner agencies and Barnstaple has street marshals, funded by North Devon Council, and a town centre CCTV system, which can monitor local activity and allows people to feel safer while out shopping or enjoying a night out with friends. CCTV evidence can also be a vital aid in helping police investigate offences and bring offenders to justice. 

“We are pleased that reported antisocial behaviour incidents have fallen 23 per cent across the whole of the Barnstaple police sector since 2021, with a 38 per cent reduction in the Barnstaple town centre neighbourhood area.

“Overall yearly crime volumes in Barnstaple town centre show the level of recorded crime fell by 4.6 per cent during the same period. We will not rest on our laurels and will make sure that we continue to address anti-social behaviour and associated nuisance offences or violence.

“High-visibility community engagement is key to the success of reaching out to the public – for instance my officers hold regular Meet the Police events at local supermarkets in Barnstaple. These give us a chance to speak to local shoppers, as well as hand out useful crime prevention advice.” 

The next opportunity to meet local officers is on Tuesday 23 April 2024 from 2-4pm at Sainsbury’s in Gratton Way, Roundswell (subject to operational demands).

In addition to business as usual demands on the police teams, there were around ten extra arrests including two for drug driving, three wanted people who had failed to appear at court and two people arrested for retail theft, which resulted in 27 charges - both individuals were remanded to court and given bail thereafter.

• Officers carried out stop and searches linked to a drugs dog visiting Petroc college (with the full consent of the college). No offences were recorded.
• Three missing people found.
• Two knife arch deployments including one during a busy Friday night in partnership with The Tavern pub in Barnstaple.
• A passive drugs dog, belonging to Devon & Cornwall Police, visited licensed premises in the town centre with officer handler. 
• Seven anti-social behaviour interventions were carried out, including ASB escalations, and the renewal of a premises closure application under the ASB and Policing Act, at an address in Roundswell following a neighbour dispute (see below).
• As part of a Trading Standards partnered test purchase operation six premises, which sell vapes, were visited by students working in conjunction with police. No offences took place as all shops correctly asked for ID. You must be aged 18 or over to buy a vape.  
• Misuse of drugs warrants and two men arrested separately for possession of Class A drugs.
• Countless hours of targeted preventative patrols, both uniform and plain clothed.
• Youth Intervention Officer PC Adam Sinclair took part in the Year 10 assembly at The Park Community School to raise awareness of street drugs and bust some myths around the subject.   
• Meet the Police events took place at local supermarkets to give shoppers a chance to speak to local officers and ask questions, as well as receive crime prevention advice.

The public survey revealed that anti-social behaviour is one of the main concerns for people in Barnstaple. In partnership with the local authority under our Community Safety Partnership, Devon & Cornwall Police operate an ASB escalation process, which works in parallel with prosecution action where there is also criminal conduct. This works through a staged process beginning with warnings and culminating with Community Protection Notices and Criminal Behaviour Orders, which it is a criminal offence to breach.

• There are currently five individuals subject of Criminal Behaviour Orders, relating directly to the town centre, two of which are for juveniles and three for street attached people.
• Two Community Protection Notices in the Town Centre are current and issued for street attached people relating to High Street begging.
• Six formal ASB referrals to the Police and Partners Youth Anti-Social Behaviour Action Team (ASBAT arrangement) since January 2024.
• Since March 2022 there have been 40 ASB level one letters issued.
• Since March 2022 there have been 26 level two letters issued as further escalations.

Officers attended Barnstaple Magistrates Court on Friday 12 April 2024 in relation to a closure order of a residential property in Roundswell. The court supported the police application to extend the premises closure order on the house until 11:59pm on Friday 24 May 2024.

Barnstaple Sector Inspector Andy Wills explained: “This is a really positive result for the local community and neighbours. Devon & Cornwall Police has taken action to ensure that these comparatively short-term emergency powers have been used to end the previous problems associated with the property and its occupiers.

“The registered social landlord of the property has been identified and we will continue to support their longer-term management of this case, which are deliverable through their processes.”

For more updates on what police in Barnstaple are doing and to take part in future online surveys, please follow them on social media – on Facebook follow Barnstaple Police or @BarumPolice on X.

If you wish to speak to someone face to face or report an issue you can visit Barnstaple police station public enquiry office Monday to Saturday between 9.30am and 4pm. The office is closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays. The station is located at Seven Brethren, EX31 2AS.  

You can also receive appeals and crime prevention advice via email or text message by subscribing to Devon and Cornwall Alert. Please visit Home Page - Devon and Cornwall Alert   

Pictured below is Barnstaple Sector Inspector Andy Wills