Undercover police operation in Torquay tackles street crime

Police teams recently seized a vehicle, a lock knife and drugs as part of their plain clothes operation to tackle crime on the streets of Torquay.

Across the past few weeks, stop searches were carried out with the aim of seizing drugs, dangerous weapons and to gather intelligence in an effort to disrupt people looking to commit crime.

Inspector Chris Lithgow, who heads up the neighbourhood team in Torquay said: “Operations like these are the ‘bread and butter’ of policing. Officers patrolling the streets in plain clothes is an effective way to police the streets. It means we can target people responsible for anti-social behaviour and drug offences on our streets without them being aware that our officers are there to prevent and stop crimes from happening.”

The operation resulted in five arrests for offences including drugs and domestic abuse, the seizure of illegal prescription drugs, a lock knife and a vehicle which had no insurance or MOT.

Officers also received useful intelligence from a member of the public about street drug dealing offences happening in the town centre which resulted in a further arrest. All information is now being investigated and followed up.

To support with longer term crime prevention, two Community Protection Warnings (CPW) were given to individuals to stop them from certain anti-social behaviour for a defined period of time. 

Insp Lithgow added: “I am positive that officers were able to take a number of illegal items off the streets and we were able to put measures in place to safeguard our communities and make the streets safer. This operation isn’t a one-off - we will continue to run these operations across various locations and times of day to seize illegal items and deter and disrupt criminality.  

“As a message to those who are looking to commit crime in Torquay – our officers are routinely patrolling the streets, whether in plain clothes or in uniform, to target you.

“And as a message to our community, please continue to report crime. Your reports really do make the difference, and your information may be the missing piece in our investigations. So, no matter how small – please share it with us.”

You can report crime and intelligence to Devon & Cornwall Police by completing an online form here, or by calling 101. If it is an emergency and a crime is taking place, call 999. 

Crime can also be reported anonymously through Crimestoppers: Tel 0800 555 111.