Business Daily

Devon & Cornwall and Dorset Police have become the first police forces in the UK to launch a fully operational drone unit.

The latest in drone technology has been trialled in the respective forces since November 2015 and such has been their benefit, an operational drone unit has been created; the first of its kind in the UK.

Chief Superintendent Jim Nye, Commander for the Alliance Operations Department, said: “This is an historic step for the Alliance and policing in the UK; Drone capability is a cutting edge way to support operational policing across Devon, Cornwall...

Devon County Council leader John Hart has been re-elected as the voice of the South West.

He was voted in unopposed as the chairman of South West Councils for a third two-year term.

The organisation represents all 41 county, unitary and district councils stretching from Cornwall to Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

It also includes the local police and fire authorities as well as the national parks.

Mr Hart said: “It’s a tremendous privilege to have been re-elected to chair South West Councils for the third time.

"This region has many issues in common...

A crackdown on dog fouling and littering in Exeter could soon be brought in, the City Council has revealed. The City Council is looking at ramping up its enforcement of dog fouling and littering across Exeter as part of a 12-month pilot project. Offenders would be issued with fixed penalty fines. The initiative was given backing by the Council’s Executive last night and now goes before Full Council on Wednesday 19 July. Cllr Stephen Brimble, Lead Councillor for Place, said that dog fouling was one of the biggest issues brought to the attention of councillors in the city. “People are fed up...

Work is underway on drainage improvements on the A373 between Honiton and Cullompton.

The scheme will address standing water issues at three locations along the road, with work at all three sites expected to be completed by the end of July. Work has started at Came Cross/Crammer Barton to install a new drainage system which will reduce surface water run-off in this area. Access is available from the Cullompton end of the A373 as far as Crammer Barton and from the Honiton end as far as Colliton. From Monday (17 July) work will also start on replacing a damaged culvert and kerbs at...