27/01/06 - Violent Crime Up In Swindon

Violent Crime Up In Swindon

Swindon Advertiser 27/01/06

Violent crime has shot up by 14.2 per cent in Swindon, the latest figures reveal.

The Swindon police performance review for the eight months between April and December 2005 show there were 2,454 violent crimes reported to police in the town.

Officers admit they are concerned about the rise but point to an increase in the number of offenders caught.

Swindon has experienced a rise of three per cent in crime overall, with 13,348 incidents reported, but there was good news for the town too.

The overall detection of crime has risen to 27.7 per cent and burglary and vehicle crime have fallen 25.6 per cent and 11.2 per cent respectively.

The figures show there were 61 victims of burglary in the eight-month period and 1,574 vehicle crimes.

Police say the increase in the number of violent crimes reported is down to a stronger stance in tackling it.

Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Andrew Tatam, said: "We are concerned that there has been an increase in violent crime. However, the detection rate shows an increase too.

"The increased detection rate demonstrates we are catching criminals who cause misery.

"Low level violent crime and disorder is often linked to alcohol, which we are continuing to deal with, and a large part of the increase in both the level and detection rate is due to the increasing use of fixed penalty notices for disorder.

"It is important to tackle such offences in a robust way at the time.

"It is a double-edged sword because the downside of such an approach is that numerically violent crime appears to increase.

"We are working more closely with partner agencies than ever to create a safer Swindon for those who live, work or socialise in the town.

"Only by working together can we combine forces and achieve reduced crime levels which we all wish to see."

Home Office figures also show the number of murders in Wiltshire for 2004/05 doubled from three to six from 2003/04.

But the number of firearms offences, including air weapon offences, dropped for the same period from 53 to 49.

As revealed in yesterday's late edition of the Advertiser, crime in Wiltshire is up 5.4 per cent, with the number of violent crimes reported to police rising by 26 per cent, up by 1,352 to 6,515.

Cllr Justin Tomlinson, North Swindon Parliamentary Spokesman, "At the last General Election, the Labour MP assured people at public meetings that Labour were making a difference on crime - clearly this was nonsense.  It is totally unacceptable for violent crime to rise by a staggering 14.2% in Swindon.  Not interested in Labour spin, excuses or short term gimmicks, this is our town, and we deserve safe streets."

"Serious police reform is needed to deal with the fact that officers are only spending 17 per cent of their time on the beat. Communities need a strong, visible police presence to deter crime and tackle it when it occurs."