Police chief’s praise as figures show crime in Calderdale is down

The statistics that cover April 2013 to June 2014 show that incidents of sexual offences, burglary (dwelling and other), robbery, drug offences, theft of vehicles, fraud/forgery, handling stolen goods, criminal damage and other offences are all down compared to the previous 12 months.

However, on the up are other violence (non homicide), incidents of theft from vehicles and other thefts (neither of vehicles or from vehicles). The number of murders remained at zero.

The figures have been welcomed by Chief Superintendant Angela Williams who said it shows that efforts to forge closer relationships with the public and working partners (Calderdale Council, Pennine Housing, HM Revenue and Customs and Vehicle Operating Services Agency etc) were paying dividends.

“Calderdale has always been a very safe place to live and work with recorded crime traditionally very low,” said Chf Supt Williams. “What these statistics prove is that the hard work put in by everyone at Calderdale Police is making a big difference. Success like this does not, however, happen in isolation - the work of our partners has really helped us to deliver these results on the ground.

“Members of the public have also played their part in helping to reduce crime by following simple but effective crime prevention advice. If followed, a few basic tips such as locking your doors and windows to make life harder for burglars can go a long way.

“We will not rest on our laurels however and will continue to do all we can to reduce crime.”

Overall crime fell from 3,463 reported incidents to 3,087. Sexual offences fell from 86 to 56 (34.9 per cent); burglary (dwelling) went down from 229 to 171 (25.3 per cent); burglary (other) dropped from 378 to 246 (34.9 per cent); robbery decreased from 21 to 14 (33.3 per cent); drug offences reduced from 122 to 118 (3.3 per cent) Elsewhere, theft of vehicle shrunk from 109 to 77 (29.4 per cent); fraud/forgery fell from five to two (60 per cent); handling stolen good dropped from seven to four (42.9 per cent); criminal damage decreased from 621 to 490 (21.1 per cent) and other crime went down from 93 to 85 (8.6 per cent).

Figures did however show that other violence increased from 598 to 600 (0.3 per cent), incidents of theft from vehicles shot up from 298 to 320 (7.4 per cent) and other thefts rose from 896 to 904 (0.9 per cent).

Chf Supt Williams said that confidence levels in policing in Calderdale are at an all-time high, with satisfaction rates of 94 per cent. Therefore they were going to push ahead with the current ward-based neighbourhood policing operating model, which came in in April and saw each area in Calderdale given its own named sergeant and PC. Each “cluster” also has a co-located building, which sees police officers sharing working bases with council and Pennine Housing staff.

“We’re doing more of the same. We’re delighted at the level of the crime reductions. We’re also delighted with our reduction rates, which are the best in the Force. We’re really keen to drive down the numbers of crime,” she said.

“We’re really keen that officers continue to be out in the community and very visible, and engaging with members of the public and our partners.

“We’re continuing to recruit special constables who will give us extra visible police resources.”

Chf Supt Williams said she was keen for her officers to do more cross-border work with neighbouring forces in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Kirklees and Bradford to ensure criminals had no place to hide. As part of this, officers from Calderdale Police have being doing a “job swap” with colleagues in neighbouring forces to increase their knowledge of the respective areas.

Chf Supt Williams said: “Criminals don’t respect border areas so we need to be more on the front foot and become more joined up with colleagues in other police areas.”

To report a crime call 101 or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555111. In an emergency always call 999.

To find out how to become a special constable, call 01924 292222 or visit www.westyorkshire.police.uk/recruitment/special-constables