Police focus on Exeter nightlife

'Operation Vigilant' during freshers' week

Police have undertaken a week of action in Exeter to tackle violence against women and girls.

In a drive to safeguard young people, plainclothes and uniformed officers have been in the city’s nightspots over three nights this week.

They arrested seven people and made numerous vehicle stops.

The activity is part of a national scheme called Operation Vigilant, designed to reduce sexual violence and predatory behaviour.

Exeter inspector Simon Arliss said: “The purpose of the action is also to reassure and safeguard the public, particularly the night-time economy community and provide reassurance that my officers are on patrol and are approachable if needed.

“High visibility patrols have been increased around areas where we have received reports or concerns about women being approached in suspicious circumstances or have been left feeling unsafe.

“We want to make Exeter a place where people can live their lives free from fear of violence and intimidation. This may seem like an idealistic aspiration; however, it is one that we continue to strive for.”

Police have been working with partner agencies and have been out with city council licensing oficers talking to taxi drivers and carrying out checks on licensing compliance in clubs and bars.

Inspector Arliss continued: “The timing of this operation has coincided with Exeter University’s freshers' week, where new students embarking on their first year of university begin to arrive, taking part in events in and around the city and exploring the nightlife.”

Officers were not only inside licenced premises but were also outside of them in the city’s nightspots such as Gandy Street and Queen Street on the lookout to identify individuals involved in predatory behaviour - such as drink spiking, sexual assault and targeting vulnerable individuals.

Inspector Simon Arliss added: “We receive many reports, largely from women, regarding possible drink spiking incidents. My officers take these reports extremely seriously and officers are deployed to victims to obtain statements and samples. Although most of the samples we carry out come back negative, we still want people to continue coming forward if they believe they have been spiked.

"Women should be able to go out at night without the feeling unsafe. We hope that our presence assists in making women safer and serves as a warning to potential predators that intimidation will not be tolerated.”

Cllr Laura Wright, Exeter City Council’s deputy leader, sits on the Exeter Community Safety Partnership and is a member of the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner’s Panel.

She said: “We want Exeter to be somewhere where women and girls and indeed everyone, can feel comfortable and safe to enjoy the city. That’s why we are 100 per cent behind this work and through such positive partnerships have been able to make many improvements in infrastructure ourselves such as massively increased CCTV provision and staffing, and we welcome initiatives such as Project Vigilant wholeheartedly.”