Staffordshire Police

Quarter three figures show crime continues to fall in Staffordshire

Crime continues to fall across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent according to the latest force wide figures. Between April and December 2011 there were over 4,263 fewer recorded crimes compared to the same period in 2010– a drop of almost eight per cent from 53,729 offences to 49,466.

In the last nine months violence with injury fell in all nine Local Policing Team areas compared to the same time in 2010 with the number of crimes recorded from 1 April 2011 to 31 December 2011 standing at 5,234 (previously 6,605 from 1/4/10 to 31/12/10).

Around a quarter of these injuries were caused by domestic violence. The force has a well-established policy of taking positive action in respect of this type of crime and works closely with local authorities and partner agencies such as Women’s Aid and Arch to tackle underlying causes.

Operation Safer Nights is the force’s approach to tackling alcohol fuelled violence across our town centres. Fewer than 13 serious violent crimes are committed in Staffordshire each week and the force is determined to drive that figure down even further.

Figures show serious acquisitive crime - which includes burglary, robbery and vehicle crime – fell to 6,279 from 6,762, a drop of seven per cent overall.

Last year Staffordshire Police launched Operation Impact, the force wide approach to tackling serious acquisitive crime and bringing those criminals associated to justice. Our partners play a key role in Operation Impact and we will continue to work with colleagues to deal with the issues that matter to our communities.

On average fewer than ten homes are broken into a day, across the county and Stoke-on-Trent city areas and fewer than 11 cars a day are broken into. However there has been a slight increase in burglaries over the last few months and residents are reminded that often simple crime prevention measures can protect them against becoming a victim of crime, Helpful measures:

• keep windows secured, particularly when leaving home, or when going into the back garden or going upstairs.
• ensure valuable items are not left in plain view and in easy reach of an open window.
• fit mortise locks to all front and back doors and locks to windows that are in easy reach.
• keep house and car keys safe and away from doors, windows and letterboxes.
• keep garages and sheds secure.
• fit low cost security lighting as a deterrent.
  
  

More details are available at www.staffordshire.police.uk

At the same time nearly 89 per cent of crime victims said they were happy with the service they received from the force. Of people who reported anti-social behaviour to police, just over 87 per cent were satisfied with the service they received.

Assistant Chief Constable Julian Blazeby said: “We are very pleased that our figures at this point in the year continue to show crime falling. Our officers and staff work really hard to reduce crime and less crime means less victims of crime.

“The affect of crime or anti-social behaviour on someone’s life can be huge which means it’s vital that they receive a good service from our police officers and staff.

“The positive satisfaction figures reflect a wide range of activity by our staff, such as call-taking, working with partners in local neighbourhoods, attending a reported incident or investigating an offence.

David Pearsall, Chair of Staffordshire Police Authority, said: “The Police Authority is responsible for holding the force to account for its performance. We’re delighted that despite the wider financial challenges we face, crime trends are continuing to head in a down-ward direction and a high quality service is being maintained to those people who need it most.

“Most importantly, those crimes which Staffordshire citizens tell us matter most to them are continuing to fall markedly and this is a real tribute to the excellent support and cooperation we receive from local communities.”

Staffordshire County Councillor Robert Marshall, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Community Safety said: “This is a really encouraging start to the new year.

“I’m sure Staffordshire residents will be reassured that the ongoing crime reduction is as a result of our continued hard work with the police and other organisations.

 “This demonstrates that we are fulfilling one of the county council’s priorities to ensure we are making Staffordshire a place where people can live safely - increasingly free from crime, the causes of crime and the fear of crime.”

Councillor Mohammed Pervez, Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "Our work with the police forms a vitally important part of keeping our communities safe and secure. We work closely with them at all levels to ensure that we maintain our excellent working relationship, showing what can be achieved when we work together. We want to make Stoke-on-Trent a great place to live, work and encourage businesses to thrive, and tackling crime is a big part of that. Falling crime levels are a good indication that the police, along with ourselves, have a clear and decisive strategy to tackle these issues."