Babergh is getting safer – with new figures showing overall crime has dropped 8 per cent in the district over the last three years.
Also on the decrease were instances of vehicle interference, down 57 per cent from 117 instances in 2003/4 to 50 in 2007/8, cases of assault without injury, down 31 per cent from 205 instances to 142 during the same period and theft or unauthorised taking of a vehicle, down 21 per cent from 144 to 112 instances.
Robbery of personal property also fell 14 per cent, while domestic burglary fell by 12 per cent during the same period.
Babergh Community Safety Partnership (CSP) has revealed the glowing statistics as it comes to the end of its action plan for 2003/4 to 2007/8.
The only areas to receive an increase were in cases of theft from a vehicle, up 1 per cent from 482 in 2003/4 to 485 in 2007/8 and cases of theft from a person, up 21 per cent from 38 in 2003/4 to 46 in 2007/8.
The CSP, which used to be called the Babergh Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, has been implementing a variety of measures to try and tackle crime in the district.
These have included: better joint working with the Police on casework, for example the joint work undertaken in Sudbury which resulted in Babergh’s first dispersal order, a series of crime prevention initiatives targeted in car parks known to be associated with vehicle related crime and more co-ordinated work with young people associated with serious anti-social behaviour.
One of its major battles has been dealing with residents’ perception of the level of crime in the district, which is a lot higher than in reality.
Paul Little, Babergh’s Community Safety Manager, said: “We are not complacent about these achievements, but feel that it is important to tell people about the progress that’s being made.
“There are of course still issues of concern for the people of Babergh and the CSP has just agreed a new action plan formulated using information from the public, from police reports, anti-social behaviour reports to Babergh District Council and feedback from public meetings.
“We are keen to make sure that year-on-year we continue to make progress. Our priorities for the following year will be: town centre disorder fuelled by alcohol use, anti-social behaviour and engaging with young people, promoting the responsible use of alcohol and domestic violence and providing targeted crime prevention advice.” ENDS
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