East Sussex crime rate falls faster than rest of country

The latest figures issued by Sussex Police and the Home office confirm that, right across the board in East Sussex, crime is falling faster in virtually all categories.

The latest summary of British Comparator Crimes shows that total recorded crime in East Sussex is down by 12.2% compared to last year and down by over 20% since 2003/04.

The county council says East Sussex is one of the safest counties in the UK and East Sussex County Council, Sussex Police and its partners are all playing their part in the drive to cut crime.

The County Council's Safer Communities Team brings together all the agencies who are working to reduce crime and the fear of crime.

As well as reducing crime, the partners also believe it is important to ensure they focus on issues that are important to the people who live and work in the county.

Using a range of consultative methods, they are working to engage with people at a local level to identify and tackle the issues that are most affecting the quality of life of communities in East Sussex.

One of the areas that local communities have said is a problem is antisocial behaviour. This links closely with the largest single crime type - criminal damage/graffiti and links to violent crime. Often such behaviour can be drink related, and often involves young people who have been drinking.

Neighbourhood Policing is key to tackling this type of antisocial behaviour and in East Sussex, the Neighbourhood Policing Teams have been targeting antisocial behaviour "hot spot" areas with high-visibility patrols, seizing alcohol from under-age drinkers and working with partners using problem-solving approaches. This includes work with the council's Trading Standards Service to target licensed premises that sell alcohol to young people who are under age.

This activity has been supported by the agencies within the county's Safer Communities Partnership who have developed a range of initiatives including education programmes and campaigns aimed at informing young people and their parents/carers about the effects of alcohol.

In East Sussex there are now 23 Neighbourhood Policing Teams working at a local level in both the urban and rural areas of every policing district.

These officers will continue to provide visibility and reassurance on the streets of the county, being accessible to local communities and working with partners and the community to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour.

Neighbourhood Policing will be further enhanced in 2008-2009 following the increases in the number of police officers agreed by the Sussex Police Authority.

Councillor Bob Tidy, lead county cabinet member for community safety, said: "Community safety is one of our top priorities and East Sussex continues to lead the way in working with the police and our crime reduction partner agencies.

"Together, we are helping to reduce crime and the fear of crime across the county".

Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Nick Wilkinson, said: "These significant crime reductions in the county help to demonstrate that East Sussex continues to be a safe place in which to live, work and visit.

"It also shows what can be achieved through working together and the strong partnerships that exist within the statutory agencies, voluntary sector and our communities.

"We will continue to focus on reducing crime and antisocial behaviour, tackling the issues that are important to our communities and ensuring we are providing a service of the highest quality."

British Comparator Crime Statistics show:

'¢ Theft of vehicles reduced by 14.3% and by 46% since 2003-2004 - substantially exceeding the 25% reduction target.

'¢ Domestic burglaries reduced by 24.3% in the last year and by almost 60% since 2003-2004 - exceeding the 23% reduction target.

'¢ The number of young people becoming victims of violent crime reduced by 20% during the last twelve months and by over 35% since 2003-2004.