New figures show fall in crime

Kennet Community Safety Partnership, set up under the Government's Crime and Disorder Act 1998, has achieved notable successes in its short history.

And now new crime figures show that crime in the Devizes area is falling.

Between April and September this year, 724 offences were reported to the police, compared with 927 in the same period last year a fall of 22 per cent.

There was a very small fall in the number of violent crimes reported, from 117 last year to 115 this year, but other decreases are more encouraging.

For example, burglaries from homes fell from 87 to 45 (48 per cent), while other burglaries, from sheds, garages, shops, and barns fell from 130 offences to 48 (63 per cent).

Vehicle crime fell from 73 to 60 offences (17.8 per cent), while theft and handling offences went down from 268 to 198 (26 per cent).

The only figure that went up was criminal damage, which rose from 176 to 201, (14.2 per cent) in the previous 12 months.

Inspector Pete Bowerbank of Devizes police said: "This shows that we are winning the battle against crime."

The battle would continue with an increase in the number of officers in the Devizes area from 20 to 24 in the next few weeks, he said.

Anti-social behaviour orders were having an impact too.

"The town centre has been distinctly more quiet since the first one was served," said Inspector Bowerbank.

Mr Lovibond's article came as a shock to the partners county and district councils, police, probation and health executives when it rubbished all the hard work the partnership had put in over the last four years.

Mr Lovibond said that crime in the Devizes area has risen by 77 per cent over the last eight years.

Police say that the figures, which were based on their own statistics, are not the whole story but reflect changes in geography and in the way data is collected.

Insp Bowerbank said: "We are not comparing like with like."

The main difference is Government insistence that every minor incident that a police officer is called to is reported. Nationally, crime figures jumped overnight by almost 40 per cent because of the new reporting.

Despite the well-reported activities of a small core of drinkers who caused great distress among residents and visitors to Devizes, crime figures have been on the wane.

As a result of co-operation between members of the Community Safety Partnership, one of the drinkers is now the subject of an anti-social behaviour order. Three others have orders hanging over them if they continue to transgress.

The order provides serious penalties if the offender breaks the rules.

Insp Bowerbank commented: "Things have been much quieter in the town since the ASBO was made."

Other incidents of anti-social behaviour in the district have been dealt with by the partnership on a more softly, softly basis.

For example, Pewsey was suffering with youngsters who were flocking to the village, ostensibly to go to the Shak youth club at Pewsey Sports Centre, but who got drunk in the toilets near Bouverie Hall.

The late night Wigglybus service was suspended, forcing parents to drop their children off at the sports centre, the loos were locked in the evening and the problem was solved.

Domestic violence has been addressed by similar multi-agency action. The police work closely with the county council's children and families department and the district council's housing department.

The partners are able to call on the assistance of countless organisations, including Voluntary Action Kennet, Kennet Action for Single Homeless and Bath Area Drug Advisory Service.

Coun Chris Humphries, leader of Kennet District Council, said: "The article was unfortunate and ill-timed and was not at all reflective of Devizes. The partnership has been working particularly well in reducing crime levels.

"To quote the police themselves, Wiltshire is one of the safest counties in England and Kennet is the safest district in Wiltshire.

"Crime around here is minimal but when it does happen it creates big headlines."