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Crime down say Home Office stats

From the Kidderminster Shuttle, first published Thursday 19th Jul 2007.

CRIME has fallen for the third successive year across the police force area including Wyre Forest, according to figures published by the Home Office today.

People living, working in and visiting the West Mercia Constabulary area are less likely to become victims of crime than they were in 2003/04, with significant reductions in all the main areas of crime over recent years, the statistics say.

National crime statistics for April, 2006 to March, 2007 show there were 3,258 fewer crimes recorded, compared with the same period in 2005/06 and almost 25,000 fewer crimes recorded than in 2003/04.

Deputy Chief Constable Ian Arundale, responsible for force performance said: "Crime in the force area is now at its lowest level for seven years and these figures show that it has fallen by almost a quarter - 23 per cent - since 2003/04.

"These low levels of offences are unprecendented across England and Wales. Our force area has always been and clearly remains one of the safest places in the country in which to live and work and we are determined to do all we can to ensure it stays safe.

"I hope the communities we serve will be reassured by these figures, which show we are committed to driving down crime, reducing the number of victims across the force area and improving the quality of life still further for everyone."

Paul Deneen, chairman of West Mercia Police Authority, said: "We recognise that performance is not just about crime figures, it is also about the quality of service provided by officers and staff and about the confidence the force promotes within local communities that they live in a safe and secure area.

"We are delighted that the investment of £2.9 million in key strategic areas of policing is helping to make a difference in every community."

The Home Office figures also show: The number of house burglaries in West Mercia has fallen by a further 12.8 per cent, compared with 2005/06. The number of recorded burglaries of homes has fallen by more than a third - 36 per cent - since 2003/04, down from 5,925 to 3,260.

Vehicle crime fell by 9.1 per cent, from 9,752 offences in 2005/06, compared with 8,865 recorded crimes in 2006/07. Since 2003/04, the number of recorded vehicle crimes has reduced by almost a fifth - 19.6 per cent - with a total of 2,382 fewer offences recorded in 2006/07.

Violent crime remains significantly lower than in 2003/04, with 5,914 fewer violent crimes recorded across the force area in 2006/07. There has been a slight rise in the number of violent crimes recorded, compared with 2005/06.

The number of robberies recorded in the force area also remains lower than in 2003/04, down from 689 to 581 in 2006/07, an overall reduction of 15 per cent. Robbery offences have risen slightly, compared with 2005/06, although the number of offences remains extremely low in all parts of the force area and among the lowest number of incidents recorded by any force in England and Wales.

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