A NEWTON Abbot town councillor has urged residents to report incidents to police, saying a failure to do so could be creating a misleading picture of crime and policing needs in the town.

Cllr Mike Joyce, who is also a police advocate, said one of the most common issues raised with him by residents was the visibility of police officers in Newton Abbot.

‘People tell me they do not see officers around like they used to’, he said, adding that he was regularly asked what officers were doing and whether they were spending too much time in offices completing reports.

Antisocial behaviour remains a particular concern among residents, according to Cllr Joyce, with complaints including the use of e-scooters and e-bikes, shoplifting and drug-taking.

He said some residents had the impression that police were not interested in the problems being experienced locally.

But Cllr Joyce believes there could be an important reason why the police figures do not always appear to match what residents are seeing or experiencing.

He said police data showing reported incidents falling was based on incidents actually reported to the force, rather than concerns discussed on social media.

‘I have had incidents reported to me and when I ask if the police have been informed, the normal answer is no’, he said.

‘People feel it’s too difficult or the force won’t be interested’.

Cllr Joyce helped establish the Councillor Advocate scheme, which he said was intended to bridge the gap between councillors, local government and the police.

Through monthly meetings, councillors receive updates from the local inspector on incidents during the previous 28 days, as well as comparisons with the same period the previous year.

Cllr Joyce said the information provided through the meetings was valuable, but stressed that the quality of the data depended on residents reporting incidents in the first place.

He pointed to a number of options available to residents, including online reporting and the 101 telephone service.

Newton Abbot Police Station is also open from 10am to 3pm, Monday to Saturday, he said.

Local officers hold surgeries at Buckland Community Centre and the Courtenay Centre.

Cllr Joyce also highlighted Crimestoppers as an option for anyone wanting to provide information anonymously.

He said reporting incidents was not simply about dealing with individual cases, but could help determine the level of policing resources allocated to the town.

‘It really is down to each and everyone of us to ensure that we report incidences’, he said.

‘That way the data used to ascertain whether there are sufficient police officers will reflect the true picture’.