Police inspector takes up the reins

THE new man in charge of policing in North Cornwall has spoken of his priorities for the area.

Inspector Graeme Johnston's patch covers the areas of Launceston town and rural communities, Bude and Camelford, together with the villages down to Delabole including Tintagel and Boscastle, and half of Bodmin Moor including Altarnun.

Aged 43, he is keen to get the public involved in a partnership to keep their communities safe with as little crime as possible. Originally from the Thames Valley with a four-year-old daughter, he has been in the South West for 20 years working in South Devon and Exeter before being promoted to East Devon.

His recent experience has been in community safety and licensing and has had a force-wide role as a temporary inspector with the Force Community Safety Unit, which looks at crime reduction and licensing.

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This is his first posting in Cornwall and he takes over from Inspector Tony Joslin, who now heads the Caradon sector.

"My role is community policing, supervising the local policing staff and dealing with the issues which affect the local community," he said.

"Antisocial behaviour is something we will be looking into, especially the evening and late night economy and the pubs and clubs. I am glad to say this area is one of the safest in the country crime wise, and the rate of crime has dropped 7 per cent compared with 12 months ago.

"I am looking to work in partnership with local pubs and clubs. I feel everyone should be able to go out and have a drink without fear of violence or antisocial behaviour."

Mr Johnston said there is a website for licensees, on which they can identify any violent people and refuse them entry. "We are targeting people who are violent offenders, associated with drinking alcohol, and we want to do it in partnership with licensees."

He said CCTV systems in Launceston and Camelford have helped reduce crime and they are hoping to install extra cameras.

There is also work in progress to install cameras on Launceston's Pennygillam Industrial Estate.

The local policing staff of 20 includes two sergeants, while the response officers have hubs at Bude and Launceston.

The staff includes an antisocial behaviour officer.

"It is great to have bobbies on the beat everywhere but we have to be in the real world in terms of resources. We do have good resources, but we have to go where the work is."

On the recent announcement of a reduction in the starting pay of police recruits, he said: "In Devon and Cornwall it is still a well-paid and secure job; a vocation. Because we have not recruited for some time, it will be competitive and we will see plenty of people wanting to join."