Annual crime statistics released by the Home Office revealed that the overall level of crime in the Thames Valley fell by 11.1 per cent between October 2010 and September 2011.
The drop is the second largest of any force in England and Wales. According to the National Crime Statistics report, there were 19,873 fewer crimes in the Thames Valley than the previous year. In total, there were 159,496 crimes recorded, down from 179,496 during 2009/10.
The number of violent crimes, sexual offences, robberies and drug offences all decreased in 2010/11, with violence against the person with injury offences down by 24.7 per cent and those without injury by 19 per cent. These reductions were the largest and second largest respectively in the country.
Domestic burglaries fell by 3.8 per cent, less than the national average decrease of 4.3 per cent, while all other burglary offences fell by 1.7 per cent in the Thames Valley compared to a national average rise of 0.4 per cent. The only area in which the Thames Valley experienced an increase in offences was in the other theft offences category, which saw an increase of 1.7 per cent, or 801 more offences, from 45,887 to 46,688.
Chief Constable Sara Thornton said: “I am extremely proud of the work that has been done by the officers and staff of Thames Valley Police, which has led to one of the largest reductions in crime of any force area in the country. These figures not only show that the overall level of crime is down, but that the more serious categories of crime, including violent crime and sexual offences, have seen significant reductions.”
Thames Valley Police Authority chairman, Khan Juna, said: “I am pleased to see that the good work being undertaken by the force to address our joint priority, to cut crime, is delivering positive results that will be of direct benefit to our communities, and that this tremendous reduction in crime has been independently acknowledged by the Home Office.
“Nevertheless, the Police Authority will continue to both support and challenge Thames Valley Police to maintain this rate of improvement, which we are confident they have the will and ability to achieve.”
