Buckfastleigh

Theft - Shoplifting

Shoplifting remains a key priority because it has a significant impact on local businesses, their employees, customers, and the wider community. Retail crime can affect confidence in our town centres, place financial pressure on businesses, and, in some cases, lead to threats, abuse, or violence towards staff carrying out their duties. We are committed to supporting retailers and making our shopping areas safe, welcoming places for everyone.
We have adopted new and innovative approaches to identifying and investigating shoplifting offences, including the use of UKPAC and greater public engagement to identify offenders and secure evidence. Our teams regularly target prolific offenders, carry out enforcement activity, and present offenders before the courts where there is sufficient evidence to do so. We continue to pursue those responsible and seek positive outcomes that reduce repeat offending and protect local businesses.
Through high-visibility patrols and regular engagement with traders, we have developed a strong network of businesses across the sector. This trusted relationship allows valuable community intelligence to be shared quickly and effectively, helping us to identify emerging issues, monitor repeat offenders, and direct resources where they are needed most.
We encourage retailers and members of the public to continue reporting incidents and sharing information with us. Every report helps build a clearer picture of offending and supports our efforts to prevent crime, protect businesses, and maintain vibrant town centres that local people can enjoy with confidence.

Anti Social Behaviour and Illegal E Bikes

Anti-social behaviour can have a significant and lasting impact on the quality of life of residents, businesses, and visitors. Whether it involves nuisance behaviour, intimidation, criminal damage, disorder, or the illegal use of e-bikes and other vehicles, it can cause communities to feel unsafe and undermine confidence in public spaces. Tackling anti-social behaviour is therefore a key priority for our neighbourhood policing teams.
We work closely with local communities to identify areas where anti-social behaviour is most prevalent and to understand the issues causing concern. Through engagement with residents, local businesses, schools, councils, housing providers, and community groups, we seek to develop long-term solutions that address both the behaviour itself and the underlying causes.
The increasing misuse of illegal e-bikes is a concern raised regularly by local communities. We are actively considering a range of tactics, powers, and enforcement opportunities to reduce the impact of illegal e-bike use and associated anti-social behaviour. This work is supported by specialist police resources and local authority partners, ensuring that we make the best use of all available legislation and powers.
Our officers carry out regular high-visibility patrols to deter offending, engage positively with those using our public spaces, and provide reassurance to local people. Where individuals persistently engage in anti-social behaviour, we will work with partners to utilise criminal justice outcomes, civil powers, injunctions, and court proceedings where appropriate. Our aim is to create safer, more welcoming communities where residents and visitors can enjoy public spaces free from intimidation, disorder, and nuisance behaviour.

Drugs and Drug Networks

Illegal drugs cause significant harm within our communities and are often linked to violence, exploitation, anti-social behaviour, acquisitive crime, and wider criminal activity. Tackling those involved in the supply of illegal drugs, disrupting drug networks, and reducing the harm caused by drug use remains one of our key policing priorities.
We are committed to identifying locations where drug use and dealing are taking place, as well as those responsible for the supply and distribution of illegal substances. Our neighbourhood teams work closely with specialist police units, local authorities, schools, community groups, and partner organisations to develop intelligence and build a comprehensive understanding of local issues and emerging threats.
The Beat Team has already identified several areas of focus where ongoing intelligence development work is taking place alongside our Intelligence Management Unit and policing partners. This activity helps us gather the information and evidence required to seek court warrants and conduct enforcement action against those involved in drug dealing and organised criminality. Intelligence-led operations remain central to our approach and support proactive action to prevent offending and protect vulnerable people.
Alongside enforcement, we provide high-visibility reassurance patrols and engage regularly with residents, businesses, schools, and young people to understand concerns and provide support. We recognise the important role communities play in helping us identify issues and offenders. Information provided by the public remains vital in helping us disrupt drug networks, safeguard those at risk of exploitation, and make our towns and villages safer places to live, work, and visit.