Moves to close Launceston court

Moves to close the courthouse at Launceston are outlined in a strategic plan published this week by the Devon and Cornwall magistrates' courts committee.

The current figures for the percentage of time a court is sitting in a courtroom in Devon and Cornwall is 37 per cent, compared with a national average figure of 58 per cent, so the committee expects to be set a target to improve its utilisation. This, it says, 'inevitably requires a considerable reduction in the number of courthouses.'

Valentine messages for Cancer Research

Valentine messages written on red hearts are being displayed in the windows of the Cancer Research Campaign charity shop in East Looe. Local romantics are paying £1 to proclaim their love publicly and support the charity at the same time.

Shop manager Rita Ranson says love is definitely in the air and she is appealing for lots more people to come forward over this weekend to write their Valentine messages .'Hopefully by the big day on Monday, (February 14), the shop windows will be heart filled and will have raised lots of funds for the continuous search into cures and treatments for cancer' she said.

More police officers

Home Secretary Jack Straw announced on Wednesday that the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary is to get an additional 138 police officers over the next three years. Funding will be in place for 28 new officers this year with another 55 each year for the next two years.

Chief Constable Sir John Evans said a bid for 200 officers had been submitted but the number allotted was 'realistic'.