'YOU are even more unwelcome here than you are in Plymouth'.

Ivybridge police inspector Adrian Leisk issued this stark warning to what he described as 'displaced city criminals'.

He was presenting Ivybridge police's annual report to councillors and residents at the annual town meeting.

The sector inspector for Ivybridge and Kingsbridge declared: 'Although there is a growing concern of displaced offenders, Ivy-bridge's message is clear.

He said: 'We are working very closely with the retail sector now.

'You will notice the shoplifting figures are all pretty much down to one shop in Ivybridge.

'We're working very hard, because it seems like Plymouth's activity to prevent and deter their prolific shoplifters from offending has merely displaced them out to us.

'But, believe you me, the message I have given them is that they are more unwelcome here than they are in Plymouth.

'They are being arrested and being dealt with. But, obviously there is a growing concern to us that we get some displacement from Plymouth.'

The annual report saw an increase crime in Ivybridge of six per cent compared to that of 2013/14.

For more on this story, see this week's Ivybridge & South Brent Gazette