New sergeant leads Exeter police team

Exeter’s streets have a new watchful eye as Sergeant Sam Parfett takes the reins of the city’s Neighbourhood Police Team.

With a background in the Royal Navy and extensive policing experience, he is determined to keep the community safe and visible policing a priority.

Parfett leads a dedicated team of Police Constables and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), bringing his military discipline and experience to the forefront.

Before joining Devon & Cornwall Police, he served six years in the Royal Navy as an Electronic Warfare Specialist and later as a Royal Navy Police officer.

His policing journey started in Exeter before moving to Honiton, then serving as Neighbourhood Beat Manager in Seaton.

Reflecting on his past role, Parfett said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my previous neighbourhood role and it was extremely rewarding. Since then, I have been fortunate to work in a variety of roles – as a Patrol Sergeant responding to emergency calls, Operations Planning, and most recently in the Force’s Contact & Resolution Command, working within the Control Rooms.”

One of Parfett’s main priorities is tackling the rise in shoplifting, a challenge faced by cities across the country.

“In Exeter, as with other towns and cities, there is a challenge of shop theft,” he said. “I acknowledge this issue and will be building on the work established in the city and continue the partnerships already established with Exeter Businesses Against Crime (EBAC), the Community Safety team, and Exeter City Council amongst others.”

Parfett is keen to reassure the public that action is being taken: “The police teams in Exeter have already achieved some good results and positive outcomes for the community. We are working to improve our engagement with retailers further and plain clothes operations are often carried out. We also take part in Safer Business Action days on a regular basis and want to reassure the public we are listening to their concerns.”

Between June 2024 and January 2025, Exeter officers carried out hundreds of hours of patrols, made over 50 arrests, searched premises, attended community engagement events, and issued criminal behaviour orders. Officers have also worked to close nuisance premises linked to crime.

Parfett encourages Exeter residents to connect with their local police team: “If you see me or my team out and about in the city, please do say hello.”