Prospective MP goes out on the Beat

9.56.59am GMT Wed 19th Dec 2007

Councillor and Parliamentary Candidate Sally Morgan has been out and about

on patrol with the Police.

From 7pm until 12pm , Cllr. Morgan joined Sergeant Dave McCaffrey to see

the work of the Police first hand. During her five hour shift she covered

several towns and villages including Bovey Tracey, Moretonhampstead, North

Bovey , Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Chudleigh and Exminster.

"I get a lot of calls from the public about antisocial behaviour and

problems that are Police issues. I also hear complaints about the Police,

or more accurately, the lack of Police presence. I felt I should go out

and see for myself the type of work the Police in Devon deal with and what

the major issues are" said Cllr Morgan.

"It is not just a case of getting more bobbies on the beat but more a case

of targeting when and where Police resources are needed the most. That is

why it is essential that members of the public should always report

anything untoward. If the police don't know when and where most

incidents happen they cannot allocate the appropriate resources."

"I was impressed with the professionalism and dedication of Sergeant

McCaffrey and the two other officers I met. It was a cold night and even

though we were probably not seen by many people I can reassure them that

we were out and about and pounding the streets! Unfortunately Home Office

crime figures do not show numbers of crimes prevented by this presence.

The evening was a quiet one with no incidents but I am intending to join Sgt.

McCaffrey again in the New Year, this time on a Friday night so I can

compare the difference!"

Sally Morgan is the County and District Councillor for Bovey Tracey

and also the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for

Central Devon .

Sally can be contacted on 07811 825707.

Sally Morgan On The Beat