Published: 21/04/2009 00:00 - Updated: 23/04/2009 13:16

Police report shows 255 fewer victims this year

Crime in Milton Keynes has fallen by one per cent overall this year, according to police.

Figures released by Thames Valley Police on Monday quoted 255 fewer victims of crime compared to last year.

Despite the city growing by 1,740 households in the last 12 months, there has been a 25 per cent reduction in serious violent crime and only ten more house burglaries than last year.

Overall, offences classified as serious acquisitive crime, which include robbery, car crime and house burglaries, recorded a fall of 0.5 per cent.

There were 118 fewer vehicles stolen than in the previous year.

Commander of police in Milton Keynes, Chief Superintendent Alan Baldwin, said: "What’s important to me and my team is the number of people that have been saved the ordeal of becoming a victim of crime.

"More than 250 fewer victims this year compared to last year is great news for people that live, work and visit our growing city.

"Clearly there are areas where we can still improve and I am confident that by continuing to work with local people and our partners we can make Milton Keynes even safer than it is already."

However, the figures show an increase in reports of both domestic abuse incidents and racially and religiously aggravated crime.

Ch Supt Baldwin said: "Whilst a rise is never a good thing, I strongly believe that the increase in reports demonstrates that victims of these crimes now have more confidence to come forward and report it to us, rather than suffering in silence.

"In Milton Keynes we detect more racially or religiously aggravated crimes than anywhere else in the Force area, which demonstrates how seriously we take these offences.

"We also arrest nine out of ten perpetrators of more serious incidents of domestic abuse almost immediately.

"We will continue to work closely with our partners to support vulnerable victims and ensure that the perpetrators of these cowardly crimes are brought to justice."

The full report has not yet been revealed to the public and the Home Office will publish its annual figures in June.

Cllr Vanessa McPake, the council lead for Community Safety said: "I believe that in the current climate, any reduction in overall crime is excellent news."