District crime rate still falling

Published 23 Jan 2013 15:30 1 Comment

CRIME in Bracknell Forest continues to fall.

Latest figures from Thames Valley Police for April 1 to December 31, 2012, shows that all crime throughout the borough dropped by 11.2 per cent - from 4,393 offences in the same period in 2011, to 3,902 in 2012.

In particular, violent crime - such as wounding, harassment and violence against a person - was down by 12.4 per cent, from 781 in 2011 to 684 in 2012, while stealing was down by 13 per cent (2,238 to 1,946) and sexual offences had dropped from 73 in 2011 to 65 in 2012.

Robbery against a person also reduced by more than a third from 33 to 21.

The police recorded 166 burglaries in homes throughout the nine month period, which is an increase of 14.5 per cent from 145 in 2011. However, the borough still has the lowest burglary rate in Berkshire.

Chief Inspector David Gilbert, local police commander, said: "I am most pleased with the reduction in crime again this year. There is a large amount of good work among my staff and working with partner agencies to produce these figures.

"In the year ahead we will continue to focus on maintaining these low levels of crime and reducing the number of victims in our community."

Cllr Iain McCracken, executive member for public protection, welcomed the "positive" figures and thanked a strong partnership of major services - including the borough council, local police, fire service, magistrates and the probation service.

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  timespassing
  22 posts
  Feb 5, 18:01
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  I truly hope crime is decreasing but wonder how much is down to the apathy of people wondering what is the point of reporting it. Burglary is on the increase but that may well be because people "have" to report it in order to get a crime number for their insurance company. How many with no insurance don't bother.
  
  I recently had cause to visit Bracknell Police Station to report a lost item in the vain hope it may have been handed in but it was closed for lunch. I returned later, looked at the queue to see the lone civilian on the desk, and waited patiently to be told what I expected. Others came in while I waited, saw the queue that had built up behind me, and turned and left. Perhaps they too had lost something or perhaps they wished to report a crime but decided life was too short.
  
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