OVERALL crime figures across Northern Ireland are now at a 15 year low, according to annual crime statistics released by the PSNI recently.
In C District encompassing the mid Down area, the trend is a reflection of these overall statistics. Across the eight policing districts, we were among six who recorded a decrease in crime at 0.5%.
Burglaries fell overall by 17.7%, showing a reduction in domestic burglaries from 818 in 2011/12 to 687 in 2012/13. This was reduced significantly both in North Down (a reduction of 35.1% from 333 2011/12 to 216 2012/13) and Castlereagh (a reduction of 14.7% from 177 2011/12 to 151 2012/13)
Anti-social behaviour incidents continue to drop with a reduction of 1.8% for the whole district and a reduction of 7.9% in the Ards area alone from 2,394 in 2011/12 to 2,206 in 2012/13.
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Chief Superintendent Nigel Grimshaw[/caption]
Violent crime has reduced in the Down area by 4% from 994 in 2011/12 to 954 in 2012/13
In North Down property crime has dropped by 14.2 % from 1,993 in 2011/12 to 1,709 2012/13.
Welcoming the reduced crime statistics, Chief Supt Nigel Grimshaw said: “I am very pleased that reported crime is continuing to fall year on year. My officers work very hard to reduce the impact that crime has on our communities and individuals alike.
“While I know that these figures are not a comfort to victims of crime, they show that crime continues to drop, and we are doing are utmost to provide a personal professional protective policing service across North Down Ards Castlereagh and Down.
“I am in no doubt that the partnership between the police and the community has played a significant part in this downward trend and I look forward to continuing with relationships that have such an obvious benefit.”
The crime figures in full can be seen on the PSNI website, www.psni.police.uk, in the statistics section.
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