EAST Devon s new police inspector, Antonia Weeks, has taken over from Inspector Jim Gale and is based in Honiton. Before her move, on July 20, she was head of student training at Middlemoor.

EAST Devon's new police inspector, Antonia Weeks, has taken over from Inspector Jim Gale and is based in Honiton.

Before her move, on July 20, she was head of student training at Middlemoor.

Married, with two young children, Inspector Weeks, 39, transferred to Devon from another force "for the quality of life and work within Devon".

She joined the police 17 years ago, from university, and has worked as a PC on a patch, did "a long spell on the vice squad" and describes her job as an inspector as being about "ensuring the service we deliver to the public is the service they want and the service they know - making sure people are in the right place at the right time".

Inspector Weeks is looking at further reducing crime and addressing anti-social behaviour issues across her patch.

"East Devon is a very safe area to live, work and visit. Generally, people should be reassured the crime rate is low," she said.

There was a chance to do more proactive, preventative work and to target offenders living in the district, she said.

"East Devon is not immune from crime but is generally very fortunate to be such a low crime area, though I am not taking my eye off the ball by any means."

Inspector Weeks took time away from her desk to meet the Herald last week. She showed a keen interest in local affairs and expressed a strong desire to engage with the community.

However, she is concerned that householders are still leaving doors and windows unlocked.