Police in Dartmouth say the majority of people they have surveyed felt very safe.

Police in conjunction with local partners, including the South Hams District Council, Localities Team, and town councillors having been conducting surveys in Dartmouth and Townstal.

Fifty people were in the first survey at Sainsburys in Townstal and just over half of those surveyed felt very safe, living or working in the area. The majority of people wanted to have more of a police presence, to retain a police station within the town and were concerned about local youths displaying anti-social behaviour.

Forty people were in the second survey at the Coop in Dartmouth and nearly two-thirds of those surveyed felt very safe. The majority of people wanted more police on the streets, to retain a police station in the town and were concerned about poor street lighting.

Forty-six people took part in the third survey at M&S in Dartmouth and nearly two-thirds of those surveyed felt very safe. The majority wanted to have more police on the streets. They were concerned about the lack of basic street cleanliness, the lack of parking and the closure of businesses and the bank.

The survey was based on three questions: 1. How safe do you feel living/working here?

2. What would make you feel safer? and 3. What are the issues that affect you most?

Respondents were asked to rate their answers as one of four: either very safe; fairly safe;

unsafe; or very unsafe

The police conducted the surveys in supermarket foyers, as the people surveyed here would capture the demographics of the area and foyers have a concentrated footfall.

The first survey took place on Thursday, November 30, between 4pm and 6pm.

The second survey took place at on Thursday, November 7, between 9.30am and noon and the third survey was conducted in Marks and Spencer in Dartmouth on Tuesday, December 12 also between 9.30 and noon.

Sgt Iain Simons said: “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 announced the addition of 100 officers to boost local policing, and the Force’s commitment to neighbourhood policing remains resolute. Alongside this, we must continue to innovate to meet the challenges facing modern policing, such as cyber-crime, child exploitation, and reducing vulnerability. The survey shows that people are keen to see police based locally in their community.

“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. “The results of the survey have been shared with Devon County Council, SHDC and Dartmouth Town Council, so that they can be aware of issues relevant to them. I would like to thank all the local people who took part in this survey, and assure you that your views are heard and will be acted upon.

“Further surveys will be conducted throughout the year to gauge your views and ensure the issues raised are appropriately dealt with.”