POLICE are winning the battle against crime despite a surge in house burglaries.
There were 172 break-ins across Redditch during 2013/14 according to figures released by West Mercia Police compared to 141 in the previous months. The number being solved has also dropped from over 30 per cent to 17.4 per cent during the same period.
But it is the only area of crime which has risen over the last 12 months with significant falls in all other areas.
Violence against the person offences dropped by 7.5 per cent from 558 to 516 crimes while robbery offences fell from 66 to 53 – a cut of almost 20 per cent.
There was also a drop of more than 14 per cent in incidents of anti-social behaviour, down from 4,426 to 3,796.
Overall there were 335 less crimes in Redditch during 2013/14 falling from 4,860 to 4,525.
According to the figures, satisfaction with North Worcestershire police as a whole has risen to 84.5 per cent.
However there have been increases in the number of people killed or injured on the north of the county’s roads. Casualties are up more than 48 per cent from 62 to 92, while the number of collisions have increased from 59 to 79 or almost 34 per cent.
Supt Kevin Purcell, who oversees policing in North Worcestershire, said changes made to way they policed communities halfway through the year had resulted in more time on the beat for officers while maintaining standards.
“I appreciate we have in most areas again seen a reduction in crime. With the move into a new policing year the focus in North Worcestershire will remain very much on preventing harm and dealing with people and issues that cause us the most harm.” he said.
“I would like to thank all of our partners for their efforts, such agencies as Victim Support, West Mercia Women’s Aid and the North Worcestershire Crime and Safety Partnership without doubt make a very real difference to keeping people safe and driving positive outcomes.”
