Crime falls in Devon despite police funding concerns
Figures published on Thursday 18 July show that crime in Devon and Cornwall has reduced despite significant budget cuts to local police.
The overall level of crime has fallen by 6.3% in the year between 15 July, 2012 and 14 July 2013. There were 5,740 fewer reported crimes than in the previous year.
Although crime in most categories has fallen with a significant reduction in burglary, criminal damage, robbery, homicide and vehicle crime, there has been a small rise in sexual offences and violence without injury.
The Office of National Statistics has also published figures which show crime in Devon and Cornwall was down by seven per cent between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013. Although historic, the figures show a similar picture.
Deputy Chief Constable David Zinzan told The Plymouth Daily: “We have seen steadily reducing crime in the last year and it shows more clearly than ever that Devon and Cornwall remains very safe in comparison to the rest of the country.
“Our success is down to a number of different factors; we have a revamped intelligence service, we have had a larger focus on areas of repeated crime as well as liaising with repeat victims and our partner groups.
“We have also improved our patrol patterns and given advice to the community on how to reduce crime.”
The new figures show incidents of dwelling burglary have reduced by 19.5 per cent, (793 incidents) and non-dwelling burglary by 14.4 per cent, (783 incidents). This means overall burglary has reduced by 1,576 incidents.
Robbery has reduced by 20.9 per cent, (101 incidents), criminal damage by 13.9 per cent, (2,424 incidents), and vehicle offences by 11.4 per cent, (786 incidents).
Also published today is the Government’s Policing in Austerity report, which shows Devon and Cornwall Police have made good progress towards making large-scale funding reductions whilst still providing an effective public service.
The report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) looks at how forces are managing funding challenges following the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) and how they are planning for the future.
The CSR has meant that Devon and Cornwall Police has to make savings of £53.5 million over the four years between March 2010 and March 2015.
Last year HMIC reported that the Force was at risk of not delivering an efficient and effective police service to the public in the wake of budget reductions. Since then, it says, the Force has developed and detailed a change programme which will allow it to reduce costs while continuing to fight crime.
In the report published today (18 July), HMIC recognise that since then Devon and Cornwall Police has made ‘good progress in meeting its financial challenge’ and is in a stronger position to manage further spending reductions.
The Force has developed a detailed and ambitious change management programme to deliver further savings and future change, while improving the service it offers to the public.
HMIC has acknowledged that the Force has faced a significant challenge due to receiving a lower than average funding and being the largest geographical Force in England with a significant population rise over the summer months from 1.7m people to 11m.
Tony Hogg, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, said: “I’m very pleased to see that the HMIC has recognised the action already taken by Devon and Cornwall Police which has enabled it to take a firm grip on the challenges it faces.
“It highlights that the force has made good progress and that it is in a much stronger place to manage further tough spending decisions.
“However, it’s important we don’t rest on our laurels and I will continue to discuss with the Chief Constable where further improvements can be made.”
The Force is recruiting new officers again with three planned campaigns to attract new officers to the Force.
Deputy Chief Constable Zinzan said: “Our current youngest officer is 26 so we are hoping to hire some younger officers as well as officers and Police Community Support Officers from BME communities. We are committed to having at 3,090 working officers.”
This comes after a hiring freeze was imposed in 2010, designed to help balance costs and funding.
The Force however still has to make good on its total £53.5 million savings before March 2015 which will see an overall reduction in officers and police staff.
Devon and Cornwall also plans to reduce its real estate holdings and make better use of the facilities it shares with its partners.
Deputy Chief Constable Zinzan said: “There is no doubt we and every other police force face some very difficult financial challenges between now and 2016 and possibly for years ahead of that.
“We have to continue to change the way in which we work with the resources we have, but at the heart of this is victim satisfaction and ensuring our communities feel confident in the way they are policed.
“The rise in violence without injury and sexual offences is of concern, but as a Force this is already being addressed and we are committed to working with partners and communities to engage and collaborate more than ever to address these issues.”
