Crime rate takes a tumble in Cheshire

Jul 30 2010 Chester Chronicle

RESIDENTS can be reassured that Cheshire continues to be a safe area in which to live and work.

Recorded crime in Cheshire has fallen by 11% for the period April 2009 to March 2010 when compared to the recorded crime figures for the previous year - 3% more than the reductions achieved nationally.

Cheshire Constabulary has worked closely with other public services and the voluntary sector to make it harder for criminals to commit crime.

Deputy Chief Constable Graeme Gerrard said: “We have had some real successes over the past year.

“There were 8,516 fewer victims of crime. In particular we have seen reductions in the number of burglaries of people’s homes, robberies and the amount of violent offences.

“We have listened to what residents have said about the crimes that matter to them.

“Drug dealing was one of the many priorities raised by communities, and over the last year we increased the number of arrests we made for drug supply by more than 38%.

“This was evidenced in the report by a 4% increase in the number of drug offences reported to us.

“Over the past year we have sent a clear message to criminals saying crime doesn’t pay.

“As well as bringing more offenders to justice we have seized more than £3.5 million in cash and assets from criminals in Cheshire between April last year and February this year.

“The report indicates that residents in Cheshire believe we are tackling the things that matter to them as anti-social behaviour is less of a concern to our residents now than it is regionally and nationally.”