Crime in Axminster, East Devon

Town centre and youth ASB

Antisocial behaviour (ASB) is defined as 'behaviour by a person which causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to persons not of the same household as the person'. There are three main categories of ASB which depends on how many people are affected: personal ASB, nuisance ASB, and environmental ASB. This can include littering, noise, inconsiderate behaviour, nuisance calls, antisocial driving, abandoned vehicles, begging, and street drinking.

To reduce and target ASB in the community the East Devon Neighbourhood team work with partner agencies such as East Devon District Council, local schools, local shops, pubs, and Devon Highways.

Axminster has a ‘HOTSPOT’ which officers regularly patrol on foot and in marked police vehicles. This ‘HOTSPOT’ covers the town centre including the Minster Green, the rear of TESCO and CASTLE STREET. This ‘HOTSPOT’ has been developed using the data from recorded crimes and ASB incidents and enables officers to target their patrols accordingly.

Antisocial driving and vehicle offences (including road crime)

The Axminster Neighbourhood Team and Devon and Cornwall Police are working to reduce the number of casualties and road traffic collisions in our area, through proactive work and positive action.

Vehicle crime includes theft from motor vehicles, vehicles being driven without insurance and/or a valid driving licence, vehicle theft, unroadworthy vehicles, and drink and drug driving. Antisocial driving such as speeding, revving, loud music and large car meets also meets these criteria. This also includes the use of unrestricted e-bikes and e-scooters being used on public highways.

Cross border crime (including rural crime)

Rural crime is an issue for large areas of the country, but it tends to go unreported. It can impact on insurance premiums, food prices, the environment, and can damage local communities. Due to the very nature of where AXMINSTER, and the surrounding parishes, is positioned in the county, close to the border with Somerset and Dorset, there is an ongoing threat of criminals from out of force committing offences within the locality.

The Axminster team, with assistance from the wider east Devon Neighbourhood Team, will continue to target offenders who travel in from out of force and disrupt their activities. The team also works closely with their counterparts in Avon and Somerset and Dorset to share information and target known offenders.

As part of our commitment to engaging with rural communities the team has visited every parish within its patch and carried out village walk abouts as well as police surgeries at village halls. The aim is to improve connectivity with the rural communities and provide education to users of our beautiful countryside. This includes attending rural events to gain knowledge about the issues effecting the rural communities and to offer the crime prevention advice.