CRIME figures for Saltash last month increased in many categories compared with July l999.

There were 13 cases of common assault, an increase of l60% on July last year, and nine incidents of other assault in the town, compared with six previously.

Town clerk, Marilyn Small, giving the figures to town councillors because there was no police officer present at their monthly meeting, added that there were 13 reports of thefts from vehicles in July 2000, with only eight such incidents reported last July - an increase of just over 62%. Criminal damage rose 100% from eight to 16.

There was slightly brighter news in that house burglaries fell from three last year to two in the same period this July and thefts of vehicles dropped from the previous four to just one.

After the figures were announced Stephen Tait highlighted a recent motorcycle accident, and criticised the police response time of 40 minutes for being slow.

He said the officers had to travel from Wadebridge as Saltash police were dealing with a mugging in Liskeard at the time. He wondered why police from Plymouth had not responded, and added that paramedics who attended the scene with the ambulance had to control the traffic as well as look after the injured.

Joyce Mepsted said she still believed the area was under-resourced with police while Paul Adams believed police should have attended the accident from Plymouth.

An official letter of complaint will be sent to the Devon and Cornwall constabulary with a copy to local MP Colin Breed.

In past months Saltash councillors have highlighted their concerns about staff levels at the local police station, claiming that it is frequently closed. There have also been worries regarding local streets being used as 'race tracks' by drivers, and complaints about much under-aged drinking. As a result numerous calls have been made for a rise in police numbers in the town.

Knee deep in rubbish

LOOE town council are to call a public meeting in six weeks time to discuss streets knee deep in rubbish, vandalism and drunkenness, especially on the seafront which is often awash with empty beer bottles and cans.

At Monday's meeting councillors complained that something would have to be done about huge amounts of rubbish everywhere during the high season, which was giving Looe a bad name.