Meet Seaton's new beat manager PC Sam Parfett

PC Sam Parfett has outlined his future priorities having recently been assigned to Seaton Police Station.

Having previously served in the Royal Navy for six years, the last three of which he was a Naval police officer, Sam joined the Devon & Cornwall force initially in Exeter, and then Honiton, as part of the response team.

He was appointed as one of two new beat managers in Seaton in March, with the second due to arrive in June, joining long-serving Police Community Support Officer Mike McGauley.

PC Parfett said he is enjoying his new role, which he says is more focussed on the long-term, taking pro-active action, working in partnership with other people and engaging with the community, rather than responding to emergency incidents as in his previous roles.

He said: "I know that people like to see a police officer on foot and it is one of my main aims to be able to walk into town and for people to know me, to feel like they can approach me and speak to me."

PC Parfett has outlined the Seaton's teams three main areas of focus.

These include anti-social driving and vehicle offences, as well as general anti-social behaviour.

He said the previous team had done a great job in working with specific, known individuals to reduce the amount of anti-social behaviour in the area, and he wanted to build on this by further engaging with the community and working with young people.

The third priority for the Seaton team is drug possession and supply. PC Parfett said he does not believe this to be a huge problem in Seaton, but it does affect all areas and the team will be working on nationwide issues such as County Lines drug dealing.

Sam and his colleagues cover the Seaton town and Seaton rural areas, stretching as far as Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary, Farway, Northleigh and Southleigh, and Rousdon and Combpyne.

This means they also deal with a lot of rural and farm related incidents, with PC Parfett being a trained rural advisor, meaning he can help with livestock offences, plant and vehicle theft, and promotes the Farm Watch scheme.