Crime officially down in the Cotswolds (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Crime officially down in the Cotswolds

3:44pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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THERE has been a dramatic reduction in the number of crimes being committed in Gloucestershire, with 6,703 fewer offences recorded in the County during 2007/8 when compared to the previous year.

The fall in crime numbers, from a total of 52,388 crimes in 2006/7 to 45,685 in 2007/8, is the fourth decrease to be recorded by Gloucestershire police in successive years.

Over the course of the year the Constabulary also achieved a crime detection rate of 32%, up from the 30% target set by the Constabulary for detections at the start of the policing year.

The number of drugs offences in the county increased by 270 during 2007/2008, but the rise is being attributed to increased police activity in combating drugs supply in Gloucestershire.

The County's Chief Constable, Dr Timothy Brain, said the latest reductions were a sign of the Constabulary's commitment to continually improving the service offered to the public.

"In the previous three years we have seen crime decreasing; now it has come tumbling down in a way which many might not have thought possible," he said.

"Some of the biggest falls have come in areas highlighted by our own crime surveys as being of most concern to the public; areas such as violent crime, burglary and thefts from, and of, vehicles. Offences of robbery, fraud and forgery, theft and handling, burglary and criminal damage are also down.

"We will continue to build upon these excellent results and I would like to thank everyone within the Constabulary, our partnership agencies, and the public, who clearly also have a part to play in tackling crime and disorder, for their efforts in working with us to make Gloucestershire a safer place."

Dr Brain attributed the latest figures to the investment made by the Constabulary in key policing areas, namely Neighbourhood Policing, improving investigations and tackling serious and organised crime.

"Neighbourhood policing has been well embedded in the Constabulary for over 18 months," he said.

"All 18 of our Safer Community Teams (SCTs), which are split into 55 communities, have at least one Police Officer funded by the County Council. The teams have also been bolstered by our increasing number of Police Community Support Officers, who have been consistently successful at providing public reassurance and in helping to combat localised and relatively low level crime, disorder and anti social behaviour problems. Together these resources are increasing the levels of trust and confidence between local residents and officers, creating better information flow and allowing us to work more effectively.

"In terms of tackling serious and organised crime, in 2006/07 the Constabulary embarked on Operation Clumber, a county-wide initiative targeting major drug dealing and the use of firearms within Gloucestershire.

"This operation spawned a number of sub-operations, many of which have borne considerable fruit in the last 12 months. As well as resulting in arrests of key individuals in the drugs trade, many of whom received significant custodial sentences; officers seized drugs with an estimated street value of more than £1/3 million pounds, more than £100,000 in cash and a loaded firearm.

"Such impressive results could not have been achieved without the recent enhancements made to our investigative capabilities. These include significant investment in new technology and equipment that has enabled us to mount sustained operations and improve intelligence gathering."

Dr Brain also praised the hard-work and support of the Constabulary's many partner agencies, citing them as one of the key reasons in helping to achieve the latest crime reductions.

Adrian Foster, the county's Chief Crown Prosecutor and the Chair of Gloucestershire Criminal Justice Board, agreed that partnership working had been extremely beneficial "These figures are great news and really illustrate how multi-agency working is delivering benefits locally," he said.

"Our conviction rates have increased so that nearly 17 out of every 20 defendants brought before the courts have been convicted, and in the last year we have ensured that criminals have been held to account for their lifestyles by restraining assets and ensuring that they pay back to the community, with over £1.4 million confiscated.

"The courts have become more efficient too. We've speeded up justice in the Magistrates' Courts and run an effective Crown Court which disposes of more cases per hearing than any other in the South West."

Councillor Rob Garnham, Chairman of Gloucestershire Police Authority, praised the work of Gloucestershire Constabulary in achieving the latest crime reductions.

"I am extremely pleased that, once again, crime figures for Gloucestershire show a dramatic reduction," he said.

"The Police Authority is responsible for ensuring we have an effective and efficient police service in the county, and as such we regularly scrutinise crime figures through our Police Performance Working Group.

"We ensure targets are being met and that the Constabulary is giving priority to the areas of concern to local people. The Constabulary should be congratulated for achieving these crime reduction figures, and sanction detection rates. We must remember though that we are not just talking figures here - a fall in the number of crimes means, for instance, less people injured, less people burgled, less damage inflicted and, overall, fewer victims - this is the real success story."

Total crime in the Cotswolds and Stroud Division fell by 1,335 offences during 2007/2008, when compared with the previous year's statistics.

The most dramatic reductions were seen in theft and handling, violence against the person and criminal damage, with an important decrease in the number of burglaries taking place.

Chief Superintendent Gavin Thomas said: "Crime fell in the Cotswolds and Stroud Division by more than 10%, which is very pleasing and is obviously good news for the people who live and work here.

"We have focussed a lot of energy and effort in tackling crimes of violence, and these were down 14% on the previous year, while at the same time we detected over 70% of all serious violence offences. The crime reductions in areas such as burglary, theft and vandalism are impressive, and we will be striving to drive down crime levels even further this year.

"Together with our Crime and Disorder Reduction Partners we will all work to make the Cotswold and Stroud area an even safer place to live, visit and work. We will continue to build on this success, leading proactive police operations against criminality and retaining a special focus on tackling persistent offenders.

"I hope this year people will really see the benefits of our investment in SCTs, and that they will increasingly know who their local officers are and become involved in setting policing priorities for their own area. Solving problems, including solving crime, is a joint activity that would be otherwise impossible without the help and support the people of the Cotswolds and Stroud area give us."

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