West Devon issues 68 community protection warnings

Nearly 70 community protection warnings, that aim to stop anti-social behaviour, have been issued in West Devon in about a year.

That is according to the South Devon and Dartmoor Community Safety Partnership (CSP), which is made up of local authorities, police, fire, justice, health and voluntary sectors.

Addressing West Devon Borough Council, it said 93% of people subject to such warnings have not come to their attention subsequently.

The warnings can be issued by the police, community support officers and officers of local authorities and can escalate to more formal action if people don't comply.

Speaking to the borough council's overview and scrutiny committee, CSP representatives said they were "incredibly proud" of the pilot project, reported the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Community and safeguarding manager at Teignbridge District Council Rebecca Hewitt said the 68 warnings had been useful in dealing with problems that had been ongoing for a number of years.

She suggested the project had stopped exploitation and the smell of cannabis coming from properties in West Devon.

"We can use them in a broad range of ways," Ms Hewitt said.

"We are leading the peninsula on this. It's really important in the reputation of the local council.

"We are getting really good feedback from partners in community."

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