Crime in Suffolk
has fallen, according to the latest annual performance
figures.
And, during the same period, the number of crimes
solved by Suffolk Constabulary has increased.
The figures relate to 2007/08,
comparing performance with the year before.
They show the following:
Overall crime dropped by 5.4% (to
48,330 crimes), which is 9.5% or 5,100 crimes less than 2003/04
(the first year of the present counting rules) and is the lowest
level for at least seven years.
Violent crime fell by
6.8%.
Vehicle crime fell by
9.7%.
Criminal damage fell by
6.7%.
Burglary (dwelling
and non-dwelling) fell by 2%
The detection rate
improved by more than 2% to 30.2%. In total, 14,594 crimes were
solved – an extra 271 compared to 2006/07.
There was a slight rise in house
burglaries of 4.6% (78 offences) during 2007/08 - but this is still
26% lower than the level in 2003/04.
The number of drug offences recorded
has also increased by 5.8%, which is a reflection of the
Constabulary’s pro-active approach to drug enforcement.
Suffolk’s Chief Constable Simon Ash
said: “I am extremely pleased with this positive set of
figures.
“They show a sustained, long-term
improvement in the safety of Suffolk – and reflect the dedication
and commitment that the officers and staff of the Constabulary have
shown during a particularly challenging period.
“In addition, partnership working and
an increased presence of community policing, brought about by the
introduction of the Safer Neighbourhood Teams, is not only helping
to reduce crime, but is also tackling the fear of crime in the
county.
“Now we need to build upon
this solid foundation in the coming year as we aim to deliver the
best possible service to the communities of Suffolk."
Police Authority Chair Gulshan Kayembe
added: “It is the Authority’s job to ensure that local people
receive a quality policing service, by monitoring the
Constabulary’s performance.
“These latest figures show that the
Constabulary is performing well in making our county even safer,
against an extremely challenging financial backdrop.
“We will continue to
monitor progress in the year ahead – not just in terms of reducing
crime but also the quality of service provided for local people and
how safe they feel.”