Burglaries lead way as crime falls in district

Burglaries lead way as crime falls in district

22 May 2013

CRIME rates are continuing to fall in Down in line with trends across Northern Ireland.

The total number of crimes fell by 3.1 per cent between April 2012 and March 2013 compared to the previous period in 2011/12. This equates to 3,177 crimes being committed, compared to 3,277.

In general, crime in Northern Ireland reduced by 2.9 per cent.

The latest crime statistics for Down show burglary, which has been a major problem over the past decade, continues its gradual decline. Burglaries in general are down 14.7 per cent — 424 offences — and down 8.9 per cent in terms of domestic burglaries.

Significantly smaller numbers of burglaries in the neighbouring North Down and Castlereagh areas of C District, however, show how much work remains to be done in Down. In North Down there was a burglary reduction of 35.1 per cent (from 333 burglaries in 2011/12 to 216 in 2012/13) and in Castlereagh there was a reduction of 14 per cent (from 177 burglaries in 2011/12 to 151 in 2012/13).

The figures also show violent crime in Down has reduced by four per cent and criminal damage offences are down 8.5 per cent.

Other crimes showed small decreases apart from fraud and forgery offences, which jumped 69.7 per cent, drug offences, which jumped 35.1 per cent, sexual offences, which are up 3.4 per cent, and car thefts, up 8.6 per cent.

The detection rate for crimes in Down rose one per cent to 25.3 per cent of crimes solved.

Overall in C District, which incorporates Down, Ards, Castlereagh and North Down, there was a 0.5 per cent decrease in crime. C District was among six out of eight policing districts to record such a decrease.

Anti-social behaviour incidents also continue to , with a reduction of 1.8 per cent for the whole district.

Welcoming the reduced crime statistics, Chief Superintendent Nigel Grimshaw said: “I am very pleased that reported crime is continuing to fall year on year. My officers work very hard to reduce the impact that crime has on our communities and individuals alike.

“While I know that these figures are not a comfort to victims of crime, they show that crime continues to drop, and we are doing are utmost to provide a personal professional protective policing service across North Down, Ards, Castlereagh and Down.

“I am in no doubt that the partnership between the police and the community has played a significant part in this downward trend and I look forward to continuing with relationships that have such an obvious benefit.”