Jim Parker: How Vicar Neil is trying to turn the tide on drugs in Paignton

Hands up, when the problems of drug dealing and taking and anti-social behaviour are raised the first hotspot that comes to mind (for many other people as well) is the Castle Circus area of Torquay.

But what about over in Paignton where my attention was drawn by Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez after a recent fact-finding visit to the area?

She wanted to see for herself how funding from the Safer Streets pot - around £500,00 in Paignton's case - was benefitting the town on the crime front.

Along with the Neighbourhood Policing team and Safer Torbay Council colleagues, Mrs Hernandez was given a clear picture of planned improvements, including new CCTV and street lighting to local businesses spearheading restorative justice ‘circles’.

But what really caught my attention was her reference to being 'humbled' to meet Paignton Parish priest Neil Knox and hearing of his 'personal crusade' against persistent theft and drugs.

"Community leaders like these are the ‘eyes and ears’ of our neighbourhoods and go the extra mile on behalf of local residents every day, in order to tackle crime and improve town safety, " was her verdict after meeting the town vicar.

Only by actually speaking to the Rev Knox do you grasp the enormity he, the volunteers he works with and town faces.

With 15 years in the military and another 15 in the world of hard-nosed, global business you would have thought a career change and life as a new vicar in downtown Paignton would be a piece of cake.

Father Neil, who will have been at Paignton three years in August, paints a very different picture: "The area of town around the church is extremely deprived and has been blighted by crime and ASB for many years as often reported in the press. Sadly, this makes it a rich and easy target rich environment for those individuals who want to manipulate many of our vulnerable local people into taking drugs and subsequently getting involved in crime to feed that addiction.

He adds: "Many groups and volunteers continue to work closely and tirelessly together to try make a difference and I, with them’ are trying to puzzle out how to make inroads into breaking the cycle. It is about being responsive and not just reactive."

During the first six to eight months into his tenure, a staggering 800 'sharps' were recovered from the church yard.

He says: "Every other day individuals were fighting , occasionally stabbing each other and once even a handgun seized by the police." 

On one occasion Rev Knox was even threatened himself by someone wielding an 8-inch knife when he was asked to not deal drugs and leave and on another he physically assisted the local PCSO in restraining and detain a blood-soaked man after a knife fight in the churchyard until police arrived - pausing a service in the meanwhile.

He said: "Working closely with the police and council ASB/drug team we determined to temporarily close one church yard gate to reduce the scope of access for daily drug users and dealers; wonderfully the needles are now down to five a week now and the churchyard is a more peaceful place for visitors.

"Regrettably, problems haven’t yet gone away; the church had a significant targeted desecration in one recent incident and in the 10 days before Christmas the police were called out four times to serious incidents.

 “We are trying to disrupt the activity of the dealers in our neighbourhood to help improve it for those who live and come here."

There are also important community-linked matters to be managed. Alongside fellow trustees and volunteers The Rev Knox is helping ensure the Paignton Community Larder (food bank) and Community Supermarket are able to sustainably meet the needs of those who unfortunately have to call on them.

He says: "We provided over 115,000 meals in 2023, our busiest year on record."

He is also involved in helping restructure how The Haven homeless drop-in centre, which, also currently houses the night shelter for up to 22 people can be managed and run to ensure this vital support and signposting facility for guests continues to operate into the future for as long as it is needed.

He says there are a couple of things he has learned from aspects of his previous life which apply to people actively trying to turn around their lives. He said: "We need to give a hand up - not a hand out, to help assist them off that roundabout of dependency.  Having volunteers who have been in their position and successfully moved on, are incredibly valuable in helping provide that encouragement to guests; they speak a language and have a known empathy with guests many of us are most fortunate never having to have experienced."

“The thing that keeps me going and encourages me most, despite the seemingly unrelenting challenges, is the wealth of so many local volunteers and charities pulling together to try make a difference and support others. They have done it for many years and do not seek any recognition. They just muck in and do it and that is truly humbling."

Nonetheless, The Rev Knox was also clear on the importance from his previous experience - that when people invest of themselves and with money, they want to know it is being wisely and effectively deployed to get the very best ‘return-on-investment for those it was intended to help..

He says: "It helps boost our morale, reassures us we are doing the right thing and helps shape what we can build on or just as importantly, stop doing."

Last word to Commissioner Hernandez: "I know very well that Torbay residents across the bay are fed up with the menace of anti-social behaviour, drug dealing and violence that blights their town centres. But it’s through the tactical and timely use of ring-fenced funds (such as Safer Streets), plus the dedication of an enhanced neighbourhood policing team and the personal commitment of community leaders like Rev Knox, that we can fix some of these town-centre problems for good."

Absolutely - but the Rev Knox also needs to be actually shown that all his efforts are working and worthwhile and Alison Hernandez needs to know that her money is being well spent.