Salcombe Harbourmaster Ian Gibson is now sharing his estuary-side office with the local police force – for a month’s trial.

Police approached the South Hams District Council-run Harbour Office several months ago in a bid to cut costs and share the office on the quay at Whitestrand – next to one of the town’s main car parks.

The constabulary has already closed many of its town police stations. Salcombe is currently being reviewed during the trial move to Whitestrand.

The police, Mr Gibson, and Councillor John Carter, chairman of Salcombe Harbour Board are all highly supportive of the move.

Mr Gibson said: “We have agreed in outline to a month’s trial during February. If this works well and there are no insurmountable problems on both sides, we will make the arrangement permanent. There is more to be gained from this relationship than money.”

Cllr Carter added: “This is a real groundbreaking move – and probably the first in the country – a great example of shared working. If we did not take them in then there would not be a police station in the town.

“The police station was more remote from the town centre. This concentrates the services on the waterfront in the centre of the town and has the benefit of not losing our police presence. It will be a good point of contact for marine crime. This is a win/win for us and hopefully more of a deterrent to marine criminals.”

Inspector Andy Tomlinson, Sector Inspector for South Hams East, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for us. With our current constrained budgets any improvement in financial efficiency directly helps to protect front line services. In this case we will also be operating from a better location, central to the main focus of activity in the town. We already have a good working relationship with the Harbourmaster and working more closely can only have benefits in our shared objectives of improving safety and reducing crime in and around the harbour”.