Crime dropping across Pendle for fifth year

CRIME in Pendle keeps falling, and the borough’s Community Safety Partnership is determined to make residents even safer.

In its plans for 2011/12, the partnership outlines how it will continue to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour over the next year. It will be discussed by members of Pendle Council’s Executive next Thursday.

Councillors will hear how, for the fifth year running, Pendle has continued to see unprecedented reductions in crime and anti-social behaviour.

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They will also hear that residents’ perception of crime is now more in line with reality as they are feeling much safer, too.

Over the past 12 months, Pendle has seen:

Serious acquisitive crime reduce from 909 to 789 - 13.2% reduction.

Burglary in dwellings fall from 210 to 192 - 8.6% reduction.

Assaults with less serious injury fall from 500 to 460 - 8.2% reduction.

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Criminal damage fall from 1,385 to 1,083 - 21.8% reduction.

Vehicle crimes fall from 679 to 570 - 16.1% reduction.

Coun. David Whipp, chairman of Pendle Community Safety Partnership, said: “The number of people affected by crime or anti-social behaviour has reduced in Pendle. This is after three successive years of reductions, so it’s particularly good news.

“House burglary reached an all-time low at the end of March last year and we thought achieving further reductions might be difficult.

“But we’ve managed to maintain performance and we now have the lowest burglary rate for decades!”

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The key priorities for the safety partnership over the next 12 months are to:

Reduce harm caused by alcohol and drug misuse

Protect vulnerable people

Reduce harm caused by anti-social behaviour

Reduce all violent crime

Reduce serious acquisitive crime - including organised crime groups

Improve road safety.

Coun. Whipp added: “As well as continuing to reduce crime and anti-social activity, residents need to feel their neighbourhood is a safe place to live. The partnership will work hard to achieve that. There are some challenges ahead because of the cuts to public services.

“But I’m sure the excellent partnership arrangements which have allowed us to make so much progress will stand us in good stead in the future.

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“We’re committed to keeping people safe and improving residents’ quality of life. Together we’ll continue to drive crime down and make sure people feel safe.”

Pendle Community Safety Partnership brings together organisations including the police, councils, NHS, the fire and rescue service and voluntary and community organisations.