Crime figures improve in Stratford
Crime figures in the Stratford-upon-Avon district have shown further reductions over the same period last year according to figures released by Warwickshire County Council.
The district’s crime and disorder reduction partnership comprising representatives of Stratford District Council, Warwickshire County Council, Warwickshire Police and other agencies with crime reduction remits, is heralding reductions in several key areas such as domestic burglary, robbery from the person, theft of vehicles and commercial burglary.
The successes are mirrored by public perception. In a survey of people’s perceptions of crime, there was a fall of 8% on the 2003/04 baseline in the number of people worried about having their houses burgled (59% to 51%) and a fall of 7% in the numbers fearing having their car stolen (48% to 41%).
In 2003/2004, a baseline figure for crime in the district was recorded. After two years, these figures have fallen in the following crime categories.
Crime type
2003/04 baseline
2005/06 figure
Change on baseline
Domestic burglary
374
349
-7%
Robbery from person
45
39
-13%
Sexual offences
70
62
-11%
Theft of vehicle
244
221
-9%
Commercial burglary
429
348
-19%
Drug offences
291
414
Up 42%
Total recorded crime
7,534
7,429
-1%
The rise in drug offences is an anomaly; the success of the police operation at the God’s Kitchen event in Long Marston has altered the statistics but should be interpreted as a success as Chief Inspector Chris Ward explains:
“Unlike domestic burglary, for example, where we have also made terrific progress, a drugs offence is only recorded when an arrest is made. The high figure reflects a high number of arrests and, importantly, a large amount of drugs not making it onto the streets of Stratford.”
There have been small rises in violence against the person. Changes in the reporting procedure since 2003/04 means that the Police now have to log insulting words as a violent crime which skews the figure slightly.
Similarly there has been a small rise in criminal damage such as graffiti or vandalism with the yearly figure rising from 1,320 in 2003/04 to 1,337 in 2005/06. However, Cllr Chris Williams, portfolio holder with Stratford District Council for community services, said:
“Overall, these figures show a picture of improving performance almost across the board of key crime areas and that is very good news for the people of Stratford District. I am also delighted to see that fear of crime has come down; it is a shame that residents should have a high fear of crime when, in reality, the district is one of the safest places to live and work in the country.
“Although the figures are generally very encouraging, we know there is still work to do, particularly in the fields of criminal damage and anti-social behaviour among young people. However, there is a robust strategy in place to divert nuisance behaviour and criminal damage with positive activities. Where we are unable to reach young people and involve them in the activities, we are taking an intolerant approach to any anti-social behaviour and expect to see that bear fruit with a further reduction in criminal damage and anti-social behaviour in coming months.”