Crime Rate is "Lowest Ever Recorded in Borough"
Met Police say there were 1,600 fewer victims this year
Hammersmith & Fulham is safer than ever before – with 1,600 fewer victims of crime last year, according to the latest Met Police figures.
Data released by the force this week shows 2012/13 had the lowest crime rate ever recorded in the borough.
In the 12 months to March 31, 2013 statistics show that recorded crime was driven down by 7.2% compared to the previous year.
There were 21,647 offences over the past 12 months compared to 23,317 the year before.
Residential burglary is also at its lowest ever level in H&F – down 32%, from 1,631 offences to 1,107.
Vehicle crime and youth violence are both down 17% to 2,731 and 245 offences respectively.
There were 32 gun related crimes, a 13% fall compared to the previous year’s 37 crimes and knife crime tumbled by 28% to 206 offences.
Chief Superintendent Lucy D'Orsi praised the work of her officers and highlighted innovative ways of tackling crime, such as the new ward based crime road shows and sting cars and houses.
Chief Superintendent D’Orsi said: " I am very pleased with the tremendous fall in crime over the past year. Our officers and staff are working extremely hard to make a difference to the people of Hammersmith, Fulham, and Shepherd's Bush. Together we will continue to build on our successful and productive partnership with the council to tackle crime in innovative ways.
" In the next few months we will be changing the way we police the borough, ensuring that more officers than ever will be dedicated to neighbourhood policing. Together with the council we believe that this will continue to drive down crime and put the borough at the forefront of crime reduction for the coming year."
H&F Council has a strong track record of working closely with the police and, together with local businesses, is spending £1.6million a year to pay for three enhanced squads of town centre Police. The funding means H&F has 42 more police officers than it would do otherwise.
" Together with the Police the council is working tirelessly to tackle the criminal minority head-on," says Cllr Greg Smith, H&F Council Deputy Leader. " With specialist teams proactively targeting offenders there are around 8,000 fewer crimes per year than 10 years ago and 1,600 fewer victims of crime since this time last year.
" H&F has never been safer and while last year’s figures have made history, as the lowest ever recorded locally, we know there is more we can do to drive crime down further. Zero-tolerance policing works and if any criminals are thinking of trying something on our patch they need to know there’s a good chance they will end up behind bars."
To read more about crime and anti-social behaviour in H&F visit here.
if you have information that may be helpful to the police dial: 101 or email:hammersmithandfulham.police@met.police.uk. Always call 999 in an emergency.
