Crime levels drop in West Berkshire
All crime across West Berkshire is down by 11 per cent in comparison with last year, according to the latest figures
MORE than 1,400 fewer crimes were committed in West Berkshire this year, according to the end of year figures from Thames Valley Police.
Statistics showing crime levels between April 2010 and March 2011 reveal that all crime in West Berkshire was down by 11.1 per cent (1,413 crimes) in comparison with the same 12-month period the year before, while there were 829 fewer crimes last year in comparison with 2008.
And while crime levels have dropped, the sanction detection rate - the number of people charged or cautioned following arrest - has risen by almost five per cent.
The local police area commander, Supt Robin Rickard, said he was particularly pleased that violent crime against the person was down 22.2 per cent (202 fewer crimes), which he said was complemented by the 41.5 per cent detection rate on violent crime.
He added that he was also pleased about an 18.8 per cent reduction in burglaries from dwellings (135 fewer crimes).
Supt Rickard said: “There are few things worse than coming home to find you have been burgled and this year we have seen a significant reduction while our detection rate is up to 15.7 per cent, which is above the force average.
“We have achieved this by strong partnership work and our management of offenders.”
Supt Rickard added that the overall reduction in crime across the district was “positive news for the public”, although he admitted the challenge was now to maintain the reductions, adding that police were keen to listen to communities to continue to meet the needs of the people of West Berkshire.
He said: “The priority is to keep West Berkshire a safe place to live, which is what it is and what it deserves to be.
“We are entering a difficult environment around crime and we have got to be alive to sudden spikes in crime as people feel the pinch of the economic climate.”
Supt Rickard added that one particular area of focus for police was reducing the number of thefts from vehicles in West Berkshire.
He said that despite a 14 per cent reduction in thefts from vehicles this year, 926 crimes was “far too high”, adding that police were keen to stress that people should not leave property on display in cars.
Meanwhile, he attributed a 23 per cent increase in shoplifting offences (202 more crimes) this year to the diversion away from more serious crimes, although he said there was a very effective Shopwatch scheme among Newbury retailers, which had helped increase the detection rate of shoplifting this year from 45.3 per cent to 52.7 per cent.
