Crime in exmouth withycombe raleigh, east devon

The team continue to utilise the Roads Policing Unit to conduct operations around the sector targeting those areas such as Queens Drive Exmouth, Clyst Honiton tunnel and Lime kiln Budleigh Salterton. Aside, the local neighbourhood and patrol teams are out constantly supported by our special constable colleagues using extra skills they have provided by Vision Zero.

The team have worked closely with Trading Standards, Immigration enforcement and the local authorities to successfully gain closure orders premises already, in Exmouth Town. Tens of thousands of pounds was seized as wells as 100's of thousands in counterfeit and smuggled tobacco. This is handled by Trading Standards. The team maintains an eye across the whole sector including Ottery St Mary and Budleigh Salterton for new premises and continue to actively work with Heart of Devon Trading Standards as well as HM Revenue and Customs and the Immigration Enforcement teams . We have led the way in this area and shared our knowledge across Devon to other policing teams, and it has been used to expeditiously close premises elsewhere. It should be noted that whilst we recognise the concerns around 'Turkish Barbers', it is covered by different legislations.

In the year 25/26, Exmouth and Ottery Neighbourhood Policing Team secured 11 drugs related prison sentences totalling 180 months . We worked with housing partners to displace nuisance residents as well as actively seeking CBO orders from the Court. We have worked with various charities to support funding under the Proceeds of Crime Act including new kit for Lympstone Football Club Under 11's and a more recently supporting Sideshore with a primary school sea safety and environmental awareness program (approved pending review). If you think that your charity could benefit from the ill-gotten gains of drugs, please contact us.

The East Devon District Council PSPO remains in place having been reviewed in March 2026. This gives powers to the police and council wardens to deal with ASB caused by individuals. Aside from this, Exmouth town was identified as a 'hotspot' under Home Office guidance and was allocated extra funding for policing and warden activities. There has been a 54% reduction in ASB reports in the last year. Officers have targeted specific groups of street drinkers that were causing problems in the Strand and there has been a notable reduction in their presence through the summer.
The summer of 2025 was one of outstanding weather and saw a high influx of tourism to the sector including Exmouth beach and town. With the exception of a couple of isolated incidents of youth disorder, we saw no trend of youth related ASB on the beaches and in town. It should be noted that what did occur did not involve young people from Exmouth but reflects the fact that the town and beach are at the end of a train line. Teignmouth sees similar issues with persons accessing areas easily via train for parties. Extra policing was put in place around exam and term break ups. ASB, whilst perceived to be youth based, is often caused by adults. We have tackled some rouge beggars who, it should be noted, are not legitimate, as well as other harassing street vendors. We feel that the spring and summer have on the whole, passed very well with little incident.
This does not include anti-social use of vehicles which is listed separately.
Our policing forward into the 2026 year will be influenced on the successes on 2025.