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Lowest crime ‘in 20 years’

Tom Rowley
19/ 4/2006

GLOSSOPDALE'S top cop has heralded the latest crime figures as the best Derbyshire has seen in 20 years, despite an increase in violent crime of 10 per cent.

Chief Supt Roger Flint, commander of B Division - which covers High Peak and the Derbyshire Dales - said: "Tackling crime is a long-term challenge. Recent results are the best Derbyshire has seen for 20 years.

"In B Division overall crime has reduced by 10 per cent over the last three years. This includes a reduction of 26 per cent in house burglaries and 32 per cent in vehicle crime.

"Violence shows an increase of 10 per cent but this needs to take into account changes to recording rules and an increase in reported incidents of domestic violence, the reporting of which is to be encouraged.

"We are not complacent and with the assistance of our crime reduction partners, we plan to drive down crime further in the coming year.

"The number of offences detected has also increased considerably, with B Division having better rates than similar divisions in the country.

"The area is a safe place and we aim to keep it that way."

Latest crime figures also show that crime in Derbyshire as a whole has fallen for the third year running.

"Overall crime has dropped by 4.3 per cent, resulting in 3,627 fewer crimes in the county last year. At the same time, the numbers of detected crimes rose from 23.5 to 25.8 per cent.

Janet Birkin, chairman of Derbyshire Police Authority, said: "This is excellent news for the residents of Derbyshire and has been achieved through hard work and close working with partnership organisations to tackle crime and disorder.

"I only hope that these extremely high levels of performance will continue to be maintained if the home secretary presses ahead with his intention to merge Derbyshire with four neighbouring police forces.

"We are proud of the performance of Derbyshire Constabulary and over the last three years have seen the highest reduction in crime in the region and generally the highest crime detection rates."