A new police inspector has been appointed for the Exmouth sector, which includes Ottery St Mary, following the retirement of  Inspector Antonia Weeks.

Inspector Weeks is leaving after 31 years' service, and her replacement is Inspector Grant Leitch, who has transferred from the Mid Devon sector.

His new role covers Ottery St Mary, Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth, and he leads the team of Neighbourhood Team Leader Sergeant Richard Stonecliffe and several Police Constables, as well as Police Community Support Officers.  

Inspector Leitch said: “I live locally and know what a great place Exmouth and the surrounding area is. We will listen to public concerns and make sure that neighbourhood teams connect with the community and those people who live and work in the area, as well as the many visitors we have.

“I aim to make an impact on key crime matters and community issues which are anti-social behaviour, the population increase during the summer, violence against women and girls, drug use, errant vehicle use and help the work which is happening towards the delivery the new Exmouth police station. Please check our local social media pages for updates and if you see us out and about please have a chat and say hello.”

Before he joined policing Grant spent six years in social work, focusing on child protection and residential childcare. He joined Devon and Cornwall Police in 1995 and started his career as a patrol officer in Mid Devon. He transferred to Exeter city centre before going into the Intelligence Directorate, which had responsibility for police briefing systems.

After joining the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Exeter he moved over to CID as a Detective Constable in Exeter. Upon promotion to the rank of Sergeant he worked as a patrol officer, remaining in Exeter.

He had a spell as Detective Sergeant with the Pro-Active team and worked on drugs recovery protocol before more general detective work. He took part in many successful investigations, including the conviction of jewellery thieves from London.

Grant’s next move was to become Custody Inspector based in Exeter, before he moved over to Mid Devon as a Rural Crime Detective Inspector, covering Exmouth and surrounding areas. He worked as Detective Inspector back in Exeter before taking on the role of Temporary Detective Chief Inspector for the whole of the North, West and East Devon police area during the Covid pandemic.

Inspector Antonia Weeks worked for the Exeter, East and Mid Devon Local Policing Area for 15 years, mostly based in the Exmouth sector, and has been involved in a range of operations and events.  She transferred from Hampshire Constabulary in 2008 to join Devon and Cornwall Police and spent a total of 25 years as an Inspector.

To find out more about the Exmouth police team, follow them on Facebook or visit the local policing pages on the Force website www.devon-cornwall.police.uk