Concern over 'misleading' reports over extent of crime at town beach

ANGRY councillors in Teignmouth have hit out after a number of national news websites claimed the resort’s beach had the highest seaside crime rate in the whole of the UK.

- by LEWIS CLARKE

Lurid headlines, in one case accompanied by a picture of a completely unconnected Torbay beach, prompted a flood of comments on social media.

But now Teignmouth Town Council and local police have hit back.

Mayor Councillor Cate Williams said: “We are bitterly disappointed that several national media outlets have misrepresented the crime statistics relating to Teignmouth which, in fact, remains a safe town with very little trouble.

“The reputational damage is of serious concern, not just to us as a town council that fights every inch of the way to improve residents’ lives, but also to the businesses that rely on visitors.

“Who could be blamed for cancelling a holiday or deciding to head elsewhere for their next trip if their only source of so-called information is the tabloids that have published this incorrect interpretation of the data?”

The articles claimed Teignmouth's was one of the most dangerous beaches in the UK, but data was only collected for a 14 metre by 14 metre area known as Spratt Sand, which is on the southernmost tip of the Point beach.

There were 46 crimes in that specific area in the course of a year, including assaults, thefts and drug-related crime. These had been multiplied to create a figure of 261 per square kilometre, placing Teignmouth at the top of the table.