POLICE seized more than £300,000 worth of illegal drugs from streets in South Devon in 2024.

Officers seized more than £100,000 of cash, arrested 97 people and safeguarded more than 50 people from organised crime.

Police attended more than 13,500 emergency calls for help in South Devon, which equates to an average of over 1,000 per month.

Superintendent Hayley Costar, who heads up several Neighbourhood Police Teams in South Devon, said: ‘Our police teams, both on the front line and behind the scenes, do such incredible work to keep the people of South Devon safe.

‘I am proud of what we were able to achieve last year to make our towns a safer place to live, work and visit – we wouldn’t have been able to achieve this without the support of our partner agencies and the public.

‘This is not to say that police get it right all of the time - I hear what our communities are telling us, and I know that there is still more to do.

‘However, it’s been great to reflect on the positive steps we have made so far.’

‘As we dive into 2025, I want communities to know our commitments; we will be visible on your streets, we will respond quickly when you need our help, we will carry out effective investigations in response to your reports, and we will make sure that victims of crime are provided with the support they need.

‘In return, my plea is that you keep reporting crime to us, sharing information about suspected crime and engaging with our officers to tell us your concerns.

‘We are listening, and will we continue to listen.

‘Together we can strive to make South Devon a safer place for all, but we can’t do it alone; you are the eyes and ears in our neighbourhoods when police officers can’t be there.’

Elsewhere, Devon and Cornwall Police’s ‘Specials’ have been hard at work.

Specials are volunteer police officers.

They have the same powers of arrest, but the work they do is completely voluntary.

They dedicate 16 hours a week of their own time to provide additional support to police officers; there are currently 24 active ‘Specials’ in South Devon.

In 2024, they devoted over 10,000 hours of their own time to support the frontline with proactive patrols, operations, arrests and warrants.

Superintendent Hayley Costar said: ‘I’d like to recognise the selflessness of the Specials we are lucky enough to have; whilst they usually have regular day-jobs, they choose to dedicate their spare time to support the Force and our aims to keep people safe.

‘They are key in helping us maintain a visible and reassuring presence in local neighbourhoods.

‘Reflecting upon 2024, I am incredibly proud of what police teams across South Devon have been able to achieve collectively.

‘Their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to protect our communities shines through in everything they do.’