TEIGNMOUTH is to lose three police officers to help boost performance targets in Torbay. They will be among 14 Teignbridge-wide that will be relocated to help a situation that has reached an 'intolerable level,' in the resort. It will be a 10 per cent loss of the 31 full time staff in Teignmouth and Dawlish. One officer is still serving in London after the July 9 bombing last year. The migration has begun and will go on until at least December when there will be a review. It is a strategic move by police chiefs who want to bail out an ailing Torbay. There have been 'sticking plaster' initiatives in successful bids for force resources, but unit area bosses need longer-term help. Superintendent Dave Brander, in charge of operations and performance in the BCU of Torbay, Teignbridge, South Hams and West Devon said: 'The migration of staff is to deal with performance issues in Torbay. 'The demand in incidences is outstripping the supply of resources,' he said. Fourteen officers will be lost in Teignbridge, but, said Supt Brander, five field intelligence officers would temporarily go back to being uniformed officers at some stations. 'It is unfortunate, but the situation in Torbay cannot be allowed to go on. 'Officers are not getting to critical incidences in the time scales. We had to look at our resources in terms of where the demand is, he said. New police community support officers throughout the force area would help mitigate the loss of officers, but Supt Brander admitted 'it will not redress the balance, 'I understand the local concern because in Teignmouth and Dawlish there will be three less officers, but we should be able to mitigate that. 'I would say that the public should not be concerned. In real terms we we still be able to respond to emergency incidences in the timescale set by the government. 'We are not moving into an unmanageable situation. It would be crass to say the service will be just as good but it will not be manifestly different for the provision in Teignmouth and Dawlish,' said Supt Brander. But town councillor Sylvia Russell said that there was not enough provision at the moment. 'I am certain that there will be a detrimental effect on the service. We are already short of officers and there is not enough spare capacity after 10pm at night. 'Support officers cannot help with that problem and it is after 10pm that most of the offenders start their working day,' she said.
