2,000 fewer victims of crime

by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
06/05/2008

It is officially safer to live or work in Hammersmith and Fulham than it was 12 months ago.

The latest borough crime figures show that there were 2,115 fewer victims of crime than this time last year. The official end-of-year report card proves that in the 12 months to March 2008 there were 23,219 crimes in the borough - 2,115 fewer than the same time last year.

H&F Council Cabinet Member for Crime & Anti-Social Behaviour, Cllr Greg Smith, said: "We are not talking about modest falls here and there; these are impressive reductions in crime which proves our partnership approach with the Police is working. The Police are working extremely hard in cracking down on crime locally and so is the council."

"The council’s zero-tolerance policy of cracking down on criminals through an enhanced estate wardens and parks constabulary is paying dividends. Coupled with a tough stance on benefits and council tax cheats, £75 fines for littering, the borough-wide controlled drinking zone and the Crime Summit we are cracking down on crime at every opportunity. Only last month we announced that 4,900 graffiti tags had been removed in the past 12 months so we are also minimising the environment for crime."

The breakdown of the official Police figures reveals 315 fewer robberies with the number of motor-vehicle crimes also tumbling from 4,101 to 3,456. The stats also show residential burglaries falling from 2,118 to 1,947.

Cllr Smith continues: "Reducing the number of victims of crime by more than 2,000 is a truly impressive fact that genuinely improves all of our lives. When we read about high profile crimes in the press it is easy for our fear of crime to exaggerate the reality. Of course crime is still too high but the good news in Hammersmith & Fulham is that crime is falling dramatically."

“We are not resting on our laurels, there is still much more to do and we will continue to work tirelessly with the Police to provide extra intelligence, support and manpower in the fight against crime. There is no negotiation with criminals in H&F - If you’re breaking the law, we are after you.”

Acting Borough Commander, Detective Superintendent Stephen Cassidy added: “Tremendous work has been done by some very committed people in this borough. We are reducing crime and we are catching more criminals which is making Hammersmith & Fulham a safer place to live, work and visit.”

-Ends.-

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