Town councillor amongst those pulled over - twice on the same night - as police launch rural crime crackdown

THE first in a series of police initiatives to combat rural crime in the Axminster area has been hailed a success.

The operation on Saturday, February 4, was led by Special Constable Piers Layburn and involved more than a dozen officers from Devon as well as colleagues from the Avon and Somerset Force.

SC Layburn said: “In total over 90 vehicles were stop checked on the night with a positive response from everyone that we stopped.

“The aim was to stop any vehicle that was seen and carry out routine checks as well as discussing with the driver and passengers how the force are looking to respond to rural crime.

“We are looking to carry out this operation on a regular basis throughout Mid and East Devon.”

Axminster town council welcomed the initiative at their meeting last week. Councillor Paul Hayward was particularly impressed, even though he was one of those stopped by officers in the early hours.

In fact, he told councillors he was pulled over twice while going about his lawful business and quizzed as to what he was doing out and about in his van at that time of the morning.

For further information about the crackdown ion rural please either contact SC Layburn via the non-emergency number 101 or email: piers.layburn@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk.