For the fifth year running, The Press has obtained details of every crime committed in York and North Yorkshire. In the second part of a three-day investigation, crime reporter JENNIFER BELL looks at the ward-by-ward, crime-by-crime picture in York.
TODAY The Press lifts the lid on crime in the area in which you live and work.
Using the Freedom Of Information Act, we have obtained details of every single offence committed in York and North Yorkshire last year.
he city-wide picture, revealed in The Press yesterday, is that crime fell by 5.35 per cent in 2010. In the second part of our investigation, we reveal the detailed picture in each individual area of the city.
The majority of neighbourhoods in York are now a safer place to live thanks to falling crime levels. Just five out of York’s 22 wards saw an increase in crime last year. Bishopthorpe showed the biggest improvement with a decrease of 46.96 per cent. It showed a vast improvement with a decrease of 46.96 per cent. It showed a vast improvement on the previous years rates when the ward’s crime rose by 14.7 per cent.
Local councillor John Galvin said: “I am very pleased to see a decrease in levels of crime in Bishopthorpe. This decrease is due in a large part to the hard work done by the police team who have worked tirelessly over the past couple of years, along with support given to the police by the residents of Bishopthorpe. I would like to thank the police and the residents of the village for this result.
“However we must all continue to be vigilant and report any suspicious or unacceptable behaviour to the police. I would hope that crime levels will continue to drop with Bishopthorpe ultimately becoming a crime-free zone.”
Osbaldwick showed the second biggest drop in offending, (down 41.8 per cent), with local councillor Mark Waters crediting a strong police presence for the decrease. Derwent (down 29.9 per cent), Haxby and Wigginton (down 24.8 per cent) and Fulford (down 24.1 per cent) also showed a significant reduction.
The biggest success story of the year was the reduction in criminal damage, which police say is often attributable to antisocial behaviour.
Only Fishergate slowed a slight increase (up by four offences), with 20 of the wards showing significant decreases.
Overall criminal damage was down by 20.57 per cent.
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