AT this week’s annual Bovey Tracey Town Council meeting, Devon and Cornwall Police revealed there had been a 37 per cent drop in recorded offences compared to the same period last year.

Between August 1-31 there were 17 recorded offences across the Bovey Tracey area which includes Heathfield, part of the A38 and the A382 towards Moretonhampstead.

These comprised six assaults, one burglary (non-dwelling), four cases of criminal damage, three cases of harassment, one public order offence and two vehicle offences.

Police responded to 62 other incidents in the same period. These included road traffic incidents, missing persons, anti-social behaviour and concerns for welfare.

The total so far this year runs to 170 recorded offences. In comparison, by the same time last year this stood at 195, representing a decrease of 12.8 per cent.

PCSO Paul Wilson, one of the team policing the area said: ‘The fact we were in lockdown through at least part of this period in 2021 shows that Bovey Tracey remains a safe place both to live and work.’