Figures show drop in crime

POLICE in Herts have seen a drop in crime, according to national crime statistics.

Figures showed that between July and September last year crime dropped compared with the same period in 2005.

For the three month period, crime in Herts dropped by 1 per cent with serious violence seeing a reduction of 47 per cent, burglary 7 per cent and vehicle crime 8 per cent.

There was, however, an increase in robbery across the county with 70 more offences being committed.

In a separate report comparing 2004-05 to 2005-06 it was revealed that burglary had gone down by 12 per cent and distraction burglary by 16 per cent.

Ian Laidlaw-Dickson, chairman of the Herts Police Authority, described the new figures as "encouraging".

"Figures for serious violent crime and burglary have dropped considerably compared with the national picture.

"It reinforces our position that Herts continues to be one of the safest counties in the country," he said.

Mr Laidlaw-Dickson promised that police will continue to work to cut crime.

He said he wanted to get across the message that "this is a low crime county with falling crime levels".

Chief Constable Frank Whiteley said: "The figures are encouraging."

He said they showed the "excellent work" being carried out by Herts police.

Speaking as chairman of the Herts Criminal Justice Board, Mr Whiteley said: "The increase in the number of offences brought to justice takes into account every stage in the justice process, from detection and arrest to conviction and sentence.

"It is clearly linked with the increased amount of joint working that is being carried out by the criminal justices agencies in Herts," he said.

He continued: "We are making real progress right across the board and were are seeing increased co-operation and collaboration, which is one of the board's key objectives.