New sector Inspector for West Devon focuses on community engagement and safety

Daniel Jones has been appointed as the new Sector Inspector for West Devon, overseeing policing in Tavistock, Okehampton, and surrounding villages. With a decade of experience in Devon & Cornwall Police, Inspector Jones is eager to strengthen ties with the local community and address key priorities such as road safety, anti-social behaviour, and drug-related crime.

Inspector Jones began his policing career as a Constable in 2014, working as a Patrol Officer for ten years before earning promotions to Sergeant and then Inspector. He has experience in critical incident management and has worked on initiatives to enhance investigative quality.

Before joining the force, he served as a radio operator for Avon & Somerset Police. Outside of work, he enjoys running, coaching youth football, and has previously completed the Ten Tors Challenge as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Inspector Jones expressed his enthusiasm for his new role, stating: "I am pleased to be taking on this role in the fantastic West Devon area and want to continue tackling key priorities while maintaining the hard work and high standards already achieved. It’s important that we keep engaging with the community and responding to public concerns."

He added: "I look forward to meeting local residents and working closely with partner organisations such as the local authority to ensure West Devon remains a safe place to live and work."

Inspector Jones and the Neighbourhood Police Team will be attending a range of community events to meet residents and discuss local concerns.

Key Events:

• Tuesday, 18 February – Tavistock Pannier Market (morning)

• Thursday, 20 February – Lifton Community Centre (11am-12pm)

• Saturday, 22 February – Walkhampton Farmers Market (morning)

Other opportunities to meet officers include:

• Tuesday, 28 January – North Tawton Town Council office (Devon and Cornwall Alert sign-up day, 11am)

• Tuesday, 4 February – Chagford Library (Community drop-in, 3pm-4pm)

• Friday, 7 February – Okehampton College (Careers day for students, 9am)

• Saturday, 8 February – Hatherleigh Co-op (Community Q&A and Devon & Cornwall Alert sign-up, 11am)

• Thursday, 13 February – Okehampton Library (Community drop-in, 3:30pm-4:30pm)

• Thursday, 27 February – Hatherleigh School (Parent engagement, 3pm-4:30pm)

All events are subject to change depending on operational demands.

Next month, Inspector Jones will attend the official opening of the Public Enquiry Office at Tavistock Police Station. The new office will be open Monday to Saturday, allowing for more face-to-face contact between officers and the public. Residents can still contact police via 101 or report incidents online at Devon & Cornwall Police’s website.

Inspector Jones encourages residents to attend events and share their concerns to help shape policing in West Devon. “Community input is vital, and I look forward to working together to make West Devon even safer,” he said.