LATEST figures show that Harlow is now a safer place to live, and I welcome the falls in crime ranging from burglary to anti-social behaviour and assault.
Overall, crime figures in Harlow for the last year have fallen by more than four per cent on the previous 12 months.
Anti-social behaviour continues to decline with an 8.96 per cent drop while violent crime is down 6.52 per cent and assault with less serious injury is down by 7.8 per cent.
Threat and damage endangering life is down by 38.46 per cent while hate crime is down by 25.33 per cent.
In addition, the figures show that criminal damage is down by 11.72 per cent, drug offences are down by 10.57 per cent, fraud and forgery is down by 7.41 per cent and domestic burglary is down by 16.47 per cent.
Vehicle crime is down by 2.39 and theft of pedal cycles is down by 6.34 per cent.
Despite the difficult economy this just proves that a strong community can keep our streets safe.
We should thank our hardworking police officers, staff, taxi-marshalls, the town's Safer Harlow Partnership, and volunteers - and also the street-pastors led by our local churches, who help especially in our town centre at night.
Hopefully, the reforms currently planned by the Government will help to accelerate this trend. Elected Police and Crime Commissioners will give local people a real say over neighbourhood policing, and they will also give police the tools they need to tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder in the night-time economy.
Overall, crime figures in Harlow for the last year have fallen by more than four per cent on the previous 12 months.
Anti-social behaviour continues to decline with an 8.96 per cent drop while violent crime is down 6.52 per cent and assault with less serious injury is down by 7.8 per cent.
Threat and damage endangering life is down by 38.46 per cent while hate crime is down by 25.33 per cent.
In addition, the figures show that criminal damage is down by 11.72 per cent, drug offences are down by 10.57 per cent, fraud and forgery is down by 7.41 per cent and domestic burglary is down by 16.47 per cent.
Vehicle crime is down by 2.39 and theft of pedal cycles is down by 6.34 per cent.
Despite the difficult economy this just proves that a strong community can keep our streets safe.
We should thank our hardworking police officers, staff, taxi-marshalls, the town's Safer Harlow Partnership, and volunteers - and also the street-pastors led by our local churches, who help especially in our town centre at night.
Hopefully, the reforms currently planned by the Government will help to accelerate this trend. Elected Police and Crime Commissioners will give local people a real say over neighbourhood policing, and they will also give police the tools they need to tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder in the night-time economy.
It doesn't at all safer to in my neighbourhood. My car was stolen and written off last year, the same has happened to my next door neighbour this year and the van of my other next door neighbour was badly damaged this year too. Add to that a history of bad accidents and road deaths on Gilden Way, Sheering Road and Churchgate Street, frequently due to speeding and reckless driving - plus the police chasing two young joy riders through Churchgate Street until one of them knocked a father of two children from his bike, killing him - and it feels pretty hairy to live where I do these days.
ReplyDeleteApologies, the first sentence of my last comment should have stated:
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't feel at all safer....