Cambridgeshire: Overall Crime Down

10 April 2013, 11:17 | Updated: 10 April 2013, 12:57

Reported crime has fallen by 10% in Cambridgeshire in the last year, according to latest police figures.

Statistics produced by Cambridgeshire Police for the year ending March 31st 2013, show there were 46,435 reported crimes in 2012/13, a 10% drop on the year before, when there were 51,658.

It also represents a drop of more than 28% in total reported crime in the past five years. In 2008/09, there were 64,663 offences.

In the past year, there have also been significant falls in reported arson attacks and criminal damage however reports of burglary have gone up in Fenland, East Cambridgeshire and Huntingdnshire.

OVERALL FINDINGS - 2011/12 figures compared to 2012/13 figures

  • Burglary fell by 1%, or 28 offences, from 2772 to 2744.
  • Robbery fell by 5%, or 21 offences, from 417 to 396.
  • Vehicle crime fell by 5.6%, or 254 offences, from 4531 to 4277.
  • All assault with injury fell by 21.2%, or 733 offences, from 3455 to 2722.
  • All criminal damage fell by 18.6%, or 1531 offences, from 8232 to 6701.
  • Arson fell by 36.1%, or 153 offences, from 424 to 271.
  • All theft and handling fell by 5.3%, or 1118 offences, from 21,273 to 20155. 

KEY POINTS FROM EACH AREA

  • Cambridge: Arson is down by 41.3% to 27.
  • Peterborough: Arson is down by 40.5% to 110 but robbery is up by 5.1% and vehicle crime is up by 2.6%.
  • East Cambridgeshire: Arson is down by 62.5% to 9 however burglary is up by 8.4% to 245.
  • Fenland: Vehicle crime is down by 27.7% to 413 but burglary is up by 5.3% and robbery is up by 6.8%.
  • Huntingdonshire: Arson is down by 39% to 47 however burglary is up by 23% and vehicle crime is up by 10.2%.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hopkins said: "The force has undergone significant changes in the past two years so I am very pleased that we have maintained our focus on tackling crime.

"It is particularly pleasing to see more than 5000 fewer victims of crime in the past year, and in offences such as robbery, assault and criminal damage, that can have such an impact on victims.

"These reductions in crime have also been achieved in a challenging economic climate when the assumption might be that crime would rise.

"However, we will not be complacent. The financial constraints on the force continue and it is our priority to ensure Cambridgeshire remains a hostile place for criminals.”