Crime figures plummet

The figure reflects the staggering success of the Safer Hastings Partnership - but the town still remains amongst the worst offenders.

This time last year the town came 40th in a poll of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships with the highest crime rates.

But in the past 12 months reports of violent crime, car crime, burglary and robbery have all dropped, as we reported in April.

And the total amount of reported crime has dropped by 6.9 per cent bringing the town to 94th worst in the country instead of 40th worst.

Since the national poll, Hastings is now recognised by local and central government as a flag ship of good practice and the lead in dealing with violent crime, prolific offenders and vehicle crime.

The work of the Warden Team and the Community Support Officers have also been recognised.

David Furness from the Safer Hastings Partnership, previously known as the Crime and Disorder Partnership, said: "This is a remarkable achievement. We are the only CDRP to achieve such a dramatic fall. If this trend continues we could be out of the top quartile of worst offending areas by next year. The Home Office has assured me the reduction in crime will not affect future grant applications in Hastings due to the levels of deprivation in the town and these reductions in crime will have to be sustained."

Of the 275 CDRPs in England and Wales, those with the highest crime levels per 1000 population were put into the top quartile and tables drawn up on performance.

Hastings is one of only four CDRPs from the South East in this top quartile, which means the figures are still too high, but heading in the right direction.

Violent crime in a public place has dropped 4.2 per cent in Hastings, against a national average of 12 per cent; car crime is down 8.8 per cent; burglary is down 6.8 per cent and robbery has dropped 11.7 per cent.