News : North Devon Insight

Hi Everyone

Crime drops again in Devon and Cornwall
Crime in Devon and Cornwall fell by six per cent in the year up to March 2011, compared to the same period last year, according to Home Office figures released today.

This decrease exceeds the five per cent reduction in the south west region as well as the national figure of a four per cent drop. Devon and Cornwall now has the third lowest crime rate of all the forces in England and Wales.

The force is also now second in the country in terms of public satisfaction with 67 per cent of those questioned by the British crime survey saying they thought the force was doing a good or excellent job in their area. The second highest in England and Wales.

In terms of recorded crime rates per 1,000 populations, Devon and Cornwall Police recorded 52 crimes, compared to 62 in the south west region and 76 in England and Wales. In the majority of areas, Devon and Cornwall figures fell by more than regional and national comparisons.

Burglary has decreased by eight per cent in the last 12 months – this incorporates house burglaries (up two per cent) and other burglaries (down 11 per cent).

Robbery also shows a three per cent decrease on the previous year with Devon and Cornwall now having the fifth lowest number of robberies recorded per 1,000 populations in England and Wales.

Reductions in reported crime in other areas include offences against vehicles, (such as theft of and from vehicles) which saw a drop of 15 per cent. Other theft offences fell by four per cent as well as a 19 per cent drop in fraud and forgery offences. Criminal damage too fell by 14 per cent.

There has been no change in violent crime against people with a 49 per cent detection rate, which is more than the south west region (46 per cent) and nationally (44 per cent).
Sexual offences reflect a six per cent increase in the number of reported and recorded crimes, compared to a fall nationally and regionally of one per cent, which is indicative of an increase in reporting around domestic violence incidents and increased incidents linked to alcohol.

It also reflects a heightened awareness of offences and, due to continuous work by staff and with partner organisations, there is an increase in confidence of victims to come forward.

Recorded drugs offences also show a six per cent increase when compared to a three per cent increase regionally and a one per cent national reduction. In Devon and Cornwall the increase is attributed to more proactive operations, supported by information from members of the public, which target dealers and users.

Deputy Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer said:
“With improvements in key areas, the staff of Devon and Cornwall Police have done a very good job to consistently go the extra mile and reduce crime further.

“Improvements that stand out include in areas that can blight our communities – antisocial behaviour, crime against vehicles, burglary and thefts, which all fell – and that is extremely encouraging for our communities.

“Many of the reductions we have achieved better national and regional averages and I must pay tribute to all officers, staff and partners who have helped achieve these results.

“With challenging financial times ahead, and having set the bar consistently high, it is our job now that we remain one of the best achieving police forces in the country.

“We are committed to continuing to work with partner organisations and local communities to look at the issues each neighbourhood has and find local solutions to them.

I am confident that our dedicated staff, with the help of our communities, will be able to maintain the standards we have set year-in year-out to ensure Devon and Cornwall remains one of the safest places in the country to live, work and visit.”

British crime survey
The British crime survey (BCS) looks at people’s views and perceptions of crime as opposed to actual incidents.

The results show that 13 per cent of people had been a victim of some kind of household crime – the fifth lowest in the country. This is below the south west region’s figure of 14 per cent and is significantly less than the national figure of 16 per cent. 

Results from the BCS show that, in Devon and Cornwall, seven per cent of people perceived there to be a high level of antisocial behaviour. This is below that for the south west region (eight per cent) which is significantly lower than the national figure of 14 per cent.

Devon and Cornwall Police is ranked fifth in England and Wales within this category

These are the crime figures within the Devon BCU for the years commencing April 2009 – March 2010 & April 2010 – March 2011:

Regards,
Tony & Richard

LOCAL POLICE SURGERIES:

Woodville: The second Tuesday of each month and is held in the Children’s Centre (which is located in the grounds of Sticklepath Community School) from 2 – 3.15 pm

PC 11010 Richard Preston
PCSO 30093 Tony Charles
Contact Telephone Number: 08452 777 444
Barnstaple Neighbourhood Beat Office
Email addresses:
Richard. PRESTON@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
Terry.HODGSON@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
Anthony.CHARLES2@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
Jessica.MEAKER@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk

'If you have been a victim of crime and would like assistance, please contact Victim Support on 0845 676 10 20.