Safer South Derbyshire news release August 19, 2008

South Derbyshire is one of the safest areas in England and Wales to live, according to the latest Home Office figures.

In a table listing 381 crime and disorder reduction partnership (CDRP) areas, South Derbyshire was 64th lowest, with a rate of 32 British Crime Survey comparator crimes recorded per 1,000 residents between April 2007 and the end of March this year. The average rate for England and Wales as a whole was 54 crimes per 1,000 residents.

The table uses figures for seven key offences, including violence against the person, sexual offences, domestic burglary and theft of motor vehicle.

During 2007/08 there were just six domestic burglaries per 1,000 South Derbyshire residents, a massive drop of 27% on the previous year, and there was a similarly significant fall in the number of sexual offences, down by 29%.

Chris Smith, Safer Communities Manager with South Derbyshire’s CDRP, known locally as the Safer South Derbyshire Partnership, said: “We hope that the residents of South Derbyshire feel reassured by these figures.

"They show that the level of crime in South Derbyshire continues to fall and all Partnership members, which include the police and District Council, are delighted."

April this year saw the Partnership produce its strategy for 2008 – 2011 and among its four key priorities is reducing fear of crime. Chris Smith said: "We hope that this news on continued reductions helps reduce worry among our residents as the fear of crime is disproportionate to the actual number of crimes that occur in the District. Over the next three years we will aim to reduce this fear of crime and also continue to reduce all crime levels even further."

Over the three years of its previous strategy (2005 – 08) the Partnership helped reduce Domestic Burglary rates by 45%, Theft of Vehicles by 21%, Theft from Vehicles by 21% and Violent Crime by 6%

Among the tasks completed to achieve these superb results were the establishment of a Sanctuary Scheme for victims of Domestic Abuse, using multi agency meetings to tackle ASB hotspots, assisting residents to set up and run Neighbourhood Watch schemes, holding annual Liberation Day events where older people are provided with information to help keep them safe and secure, and installing signs in car parks to warn owners not to leave items on display in their vehicles.