Statistics published today from the British Crime Survey, covering the period from July 2010 to the end of June 2011, show that in Cheshire there were 4701 less victims of crime compared to the previous year, which represents a 7% drop.
Despite a 3% rise across England and Wales, Cheshire has seen a 9% drop in robbery offences, and there were also fewer victims of violent crime, which has reduced by 10% to 1308 less offences.
The Constabulary′s continued focus on reducing burglaries in homes resulted in a 17% reduction, which means there were 669 fewer victims. Vehicle crime and criminal damage also continue to fall, as does acquisitive crime, where property is stolen. Across all categories of burglary the Constabulary saw a 6% reduction.
Commenting on the statistics, Assistant Chief Constable Ruth Purdie says, "It is always pleasing to see that crime is going down in Cheshire but it is equally if not more important to me that people actually feel safe where they live.
"Statistics are only part of the picture and as a Force it is important to make sure that we are always working to do what is right for the victim and community, with the ultimate aim of reducing re-offending. I hope these figures go some way to reassure people in Cheshire and make them feel safer, but as ever there is always more work to be done and this is not just an issue for the police.
"We work tirelessly everyday with our partner agencies to ensure that victims are given the relevant help and support they need, and people feel safe in their homes as well as on the streets of Cheshire."
The Constabulary has seen an increase in drug offences of 9%, which is a reflection of the proactive activity across the Force targeting those involved in drug use and supply as well as a result of more information from members of the public fed up with drugs blighting their communities.
Burglary in a building other than a dwelling which includes sheds, garages and business premises has also increased, by 3%.
Ruth Purdie concluded on today′s report, "It remains a positive picture for Cheshire but as we continue through challenging times in policing, I think people will start to focus more on statistics like this.
"For the Constabulary it is business as usual, and as we work through the economic downturn, we will continue to find ways of working more efficiently while still focussing our efforts on delivering the best possible service to the communities of Cheshire, making sure we engage with them and understand what is important to them. We remain focussed on targeting people involved in criminal activity and working with our partner agencies to bring them to justice."
The number of people who feel the police are dealing with local concerns has increased slightly from 55 to 56 percent.
