Bodmin and Wadebridge Sector

Sector Inspector Ian Drummond-Smith

Sector Inspector Ian Drummond-Smith

Inspector Ian Drummond-Smith is the Sector Inspector for North Cornwall, including Bodmin and Wadebridge.  Ian first joined the police in Newquay in 1998 and has served at various stations in Mid-Cornwall as a detective and uniformed officer and spent some time working in Bodmin investigating the 2003 double murder at Perch Garage, Wadebridge; Ian became the North Cornwall Inspector in May 2011.  Insp Drummond-Smith holds a Foundation Degree in Police Studies and a BSc (Hons) in Criminology.  In 2008 Ian was decorated by the Queen for services to the St John Ambulance and was invested as a Serving Brother in the Order of St John of Jerusalem.  He lives close by with his wife and two children.

He explains, “It is my responsibility to deliver neighbourhood policing in Bodmin and Wadebridge and the surrounding villages.  To do this, we have dedicated crime, response and beat teams; this website will inform you about your local beat team and enable you to contact them.

We also work closely with the council to deal with issues raised by you and by parish and town councils.  I would urge anyone with an interest in local issues to contribute to these forumns and you can raise your concerns by contacting us via this website or through your local council.  Those with a little more time on their hands could even join us at Bodmin Police Station as a volunteer Special Constable.

We cannot be everywhere, so I would urge people to report incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour as they see them happening so we can provide a prompt response.  You can contact the control room and/or force enquiry centre using 101 or use 999 in an emergency.

Bodmin: bodmin@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk

Wadebridge: wadebridge@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk

Bodmin

Bodmin Neighbourhood Team

Bodmin (Bosvenegh) is an historic town in the centre of Cornwall. Situated along the western edge of Bodmin Moor. St Petroc founded a priory here in the 6th Century and gave the town its alternative name of Petrockstow. Bodmin is one of the oldest towns in the county and the only Cornish settlement of size recorded in the 11th century Doomsday Book. The Gaol and Crown Court were once responsible for dealing will every offender in Cornwall. Over the years, Bodmin has grown with a population in excess of 19,000 and over 20,500 in the outlying districts of Wadebridge and Padstow. New businesses have moved to the area and housing has been developed from the old hospital site.

A new Police Station was completed in October 2009. The building which is a landmark for the area was occupied by operational staff soon after completion. As the new station is outside the Town, a public reception has been opened at the Shire House at Bodmin where the Police are working in partnership with the Town Council and where public enquiries are carried out. The policing area consists of three Neighbourhood Beats (Bodmin North, Bodmin South and Bodmin Rural) each with their own Police Officer supported by four Police Community Support Officers. The team is mangaged by a uniformed Police Sergeant (Neighbourhood Team Leader).

Wadebridge

Wadebridge Neighbourhood Team

The initial settlement of Wade (the name of Wadebridge before the bridge was built) came about due to a crossing place in the river Camel (Cam - meaning crooked and hayle meaning estuary in the cornish language). The bridge was to become a strategic position in the English Civil War as in 1646 Oliver Cromwell himself came with 500 Dragoons and 1000 horsemen to take the bridge. The town has a population of over 6,400, which swells enormously in the summer months due to holiday visitors. It is also the home to the Royal Cornwall Show every year in June.

The outlying areas of Wadebridge include Padstow,  traditionally a fishing port, it is a popular tourist destination although some of its fishing fleet remains it is mainly a yachting haven on a dramatic coastline with few navigable harbours. The influence of restauranteur Rick Stein can be seen in the port, and tourists travel long distances to eat at one of his restaurants or cafes. Across the Camel estuary from Padstow is Rock and Polzeath. These areas have seen a huge increase in house prices due to the purchase of second homes and has become known as 'Chelsea by the Sea'.

The area is famed for its natural beauty and rugged as well as sandy coastline. Many film production companies attend the area, notably 'Doc Martin' and of late 'Echo Beach'. Wadebridge sector is divided into three neighbourhood beat areas: Wadebridge Town, Wadebridge West - Padstow and St Merryn side of the river Camel and Wadebridge East - Rock, Polzeath and St Issac side of the river Camel.  A police officer and PCSO work in each area. Padstow Town Council also fund a dedicated PCSO who is employed by the force to cover the town. The sector as a whole is a safe place to live with the likelihood of being a victim of crime being well below the national average. In addition the incidents of serious crime are very low indeed. The main problems are spontaneous incidents of vandalism associated with under-age drinking. There are also problems with fear of crime, this is predominately youth generated.