WITH a patch that includes Teignbridge, South Hams, Torbay and half of Dartmoor, Supt Mayhew's 250 officers have a lot of ground to cover.

Given that the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary has to find additional savings of £9 million in the coming year their job is set to get harder still.

It may be of some comfort to them that the boss, a former volunteer coastguard of 20 years, has a background in intelligence policing and should, with continued support from the community and partner agencies, be able to target resources ever more effectively.