Earlier this week Kingsbridge Police and Kingsbridge Town Council offered local people the chance to ‘Have Your Say’ about community issues that impact residents.

A total of 499 people were surveyed to reach a promisingly positive result with 97% of people feeling either safe or fairly safe. An increase of 28% of respondents said that they had no issues at all compared to last year when only 17% stated that this was the case.

Residents stated that the police presence and the good street lighting are the main things that make people feel safe. However, the common areas of concern included parking provision, speeding, anti-social behaviour and street lighting. Specifically, theft is the crime that people fear the most.

This year, new concerns were highlighted about the lack of footfall in Fore Street, the vacant shop premises and the slow police response to calls.

Sergeant David Green commented that: “It is important that police and our colleagues in public service ask local people what problems they are encountering, and what might therefore be done to improve quality of life in communities.”

“This is never more necessary than now, when competing priorities for resourcing mean that we must increasingly focus our attention on the areas of greatest threat, risk or harm to communities.”

Devon and Cornwall police have recently announced the addition of 100 officers to help with local policing and Kingsbridge Police confirm that their commitment to neighbourhood policing remains absolute.

Alongside this, the force have recognised that they must continue to innovate to meet the challenges facing modern policing such as cyber-crime, child exploitation and reducing vulnerability.”

“Areas of concern such as crime, traffic speed and anti-social behaviour remain priorities for your local police, and ones which we will continue to work with our partners to tackle.”

“I would like to thank all 499 local people who took part in this survey, and assure you that your views are heard loud and clear.”

The survey was carried out by members of the local police force, representatives from the Town Council, South Hams District Council staff and students from the University of Plymouth who are undertaking the Public Services Degree course.

They conducted the survey in Tesco’s foyer, Morrisons, in businesses in Fore Street, Mill Street and around the Quay.

Devon County Council have already expressed that they will raise the lighting in Lower Union Road and convert the systems to LED. Additionally, assurances have been made that improvements will be made in Mill Street due to the increasing footfall in this area from restaurants and takeaways.