Since the beginning of the new year, police in Totnes have already operated several successful drug seizures and have made a number of arrests in connection with the raids.
With the help of information offered up by the public, Devon and Cornwall Police officers conducted stop-searches leading to the seizure of suspected Class A, B, and C drugs. In connection with those seizures, two people were subsequently arrested. One of the two was later charged with drug supply offences and remains in custody awaiting trial.
Further investigations saw officers arrest a 23-year-old man on suspicion of drug supply offences and driving without valid documentation after he failed to stop his vehicle when flagged down by the officers.
Another 23-year-old man plead guilty to drug supply offences on 14th January at Plymouth Crown Court and has been jailed for three years as a result. Officers had arrested him back in September 2024.
While conducting a property search, police in Totnes also recovered two stolen e-motorbikes which they promptly returned to the rightful owners. The bikes had been stolen in two separate incidents, one in Nottingham in 2022 and the other in Torquay in 2023.
Despite it being so early in the year, Devon and Cornwall police have already been extremely busy in their endeavours. Inspector Mark Stevens, who leads the neighbourhood officers in Totnes, stated that the involvement of the public has been tremendously helpful. He commented, “Without the help of members of the public, we wouldn’t be able to achieve results like these,” and insisted that information received from the local community is “key in all of our investigations.”
In December last year, the newly appointed chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall police, James Vaughan, pledged to “work tirelessly, alongside officers and staff, to drive forward […] areas of greatest concern.” According to national crime statistics, Totnes is among the top twenty safest small towns in Devon.
