Crime rises in Essex, but county is "still safe place to live"

RECORDED crime in Essex has risen by six per cent compared with a national average increase of seven per cent.

But police insist that Essex remains a safe place to live. Out of 40 forces, only four had a lower crime rate than Essex, Home Office figures show.

The figures calculate crimes per 1,000 population. The 113,150 crimes recorded in Essex during 2001-02 gave a crime rate of 69 offences per 1,000 population against a national average of 104.

Households in Essex were far less likely to be burgled than anywhere else in England, except Surrey with 93 burglaries per 10,000 homes in Essex, meaning residents stood less than a one per cent chance of being burgled. The national average was 215 burglaries per 10,000 households.

Essex saw 84 violent crimes per 10,000 population, compared with a national average of 154.

And the overall detection rate for all offences in Essex was 26 per cent compared with the national average of 23 per cent.

Essex's detection rate for crimes of violence against the person was 79 per cent against a national average of 69 per cent.

Assistant Chief Constable (Crime) Joe Edwards said: "Many of the offences recorded involve minor damage and disputes between alcohol-fuelled young men which get out of hand. It is also true that police have been encouraging victims of domestic abuse to come forward, rather than suffer in silence. This will continue to be the case.

"But however you look at the statistics, they set a challenge for the police, other agencies and the law-abiding community."

09:42 Thursday 8th August 2002

Printer Friendly Format

Send This Page To A Friend

• New scheme for domestic violence victims
• Handbag theft
• Shop robbed