House Call:  Police and council teams outside Follaton House following their liaison meeting with Peter Dale (left), District Council Community Safety Officer and Police Inspector Andy Tomlinson, Sector Inspector South Hams.  Photo: Ian Rowden

Police and council officers met at Follaton House, Totnes, to discuss ways of effectively dealing with low-level anti-social behaviour.

South Hams is a very low crime area and one of the safest places in the country to live and visit.

However, local people are often affected by quality of life issues which can vary from dog fouling to criminal damage and graffiti and from noisy neighbours to rowdyism in the streets.

Cllr Mike Saltern, South Hams District Council Executive Member for Environmental Health and Housing, said: "The police and council, together with other community safety partners, work closely to address anti-social behaviour at the earliest opportunity and this type of meeting ensures that grass roots activity to address these issues continues and improves".

Inspector Andy Tomlinson said: “We work closely with the council in many areas and in particular those relating to anti-social behaviour. This event has helped to build stronger links between individuals and improve our understanding of each other’s powers. This will help to improve the overall service provided to residents and visitors in the South Hams.”

In 2010 the council appointed John Ward, a retired police officer, who has been working with the police and other agencies in dealing with those persistently involved in anti-social behaviour.

John Ward said: “While South Hams is a very low crime area many people do suffer from anti-social behaviour.  My role is to co-ordinate the actions of the police, the council and other agencies in changing the behaviour that is proving to be anti-social”.

There are various ways of dealing with those involved such as signing Acceptable Behaviour Contracts, mediation, family support or ultimately resorting to the courts for the granting of Anti-social Behaviour Orders, of which there are currently four in the South Hams.