CRIME DOWN AND CLEARANCES UP
OVERALL crime in Banbridge District fell from April to September this year compared to the same period last year and, at 23.8%, the local police clearance rate is at its highest for more than three years.
However, in respect of progress towards meeting objective targets under the Local Policing Plan, it was a game of two halves for the PSNI locally.
The news emerged at Thursday's public meeting of the District Policing Partnership in Dromore, where Area Commander, Chief Inspector Ken Mawhinney, presented his six-month report.
Mr. Mawhinney said that whatever the percentage change, it was the actual numbers that were of most significance.
In his introduction he said, "In the three months since my last report it is pleasing to note that overall reported crime continues to fall and our clearance rate continues to rise - currently sitting at 23.8%, the highest it has been in over three years.
"We have no intention of being complacent and will continue to work with our partners and the community towards achieving all our targets.
"We are currently showing reductions in all crime types with the exception of two, these being offences against the person, which is up four crimes in this six-month reporting period, and theft from vehicles; this is up eight crimes.
Mr. Mawhinney's report revealed that of a total of 982 recorded crimes (304 of them categorised as violent crimes) over the period in question, the vast majority, 670 (68%), fell within the Banbridge sector, with 140 (14%) in Dromore, 108 (11%) in Rathfriland and 64 (7%) in Gilford.
In pursuing their objective, in partnership with the community and other agencies, "to makes communities and neighbourhoods safe and feel safe", police recorded a 4.2% drop (from 1,025 to 982)in the number of crimes recorded from April to September this year compared to the same period last year, a little shy of their 4.6% target.
Incidents of anti-social behaviour matched the 1,007 total for the same period last year, a 0% variation against a targeted reduction of 15% by the end of March 2011 and a service target reduction of 1.6% by the end of 2009/10.
On the upside, recorded incidents of criminal damage were down by 3%, more than meeting a targeted reduction of 2.5% by the end of 2009/10, and domestic burglaries plummeted by 47.3%, streets ahead of a 9.2% target, again by the end of 2009/10.
However, as sizeable a drop as there was in domestic burglary, it was dwarfed by the percentage increase in the number of people serious injured or killed on the road, which rose by 133% from six to 14 (April 1 - July 31).
Under the objective to "continue to build, broaden and sustain confidence in the police", a 4.6% increase in the police clearance rate - from 19.2% to 23.8% - surpassed the targeted 3% rise.
Also achieved was the objective of ensuring "that policing with the community is at the core of delivery of the policing service", in that neighbourhood officers worked 95.8% of their duty hours on neighbourhood policing duties, more than meeting the 80% target.
Chief Inspector Mawhinney said that from his point of view the statistics were "quite pleasing". In terms of targets, there were more green lights than red, he said.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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