Increased crime in Worthing
CRIME in Worthing rose last year across the majority of categories.
Figures just released show fraud and forgery is up by 34.2 per cent in Worthing along with sexual offences and robbery, both up by 13 per cent.
There has been a fall in the number of domestic burglaries by 4.4 per cent and criminal damage has fallen by 14.4 per cent, but drug offences have risen by 26.4 per cent.
The Worthing crime statistics, covering April, 2009, to March, 2010, have been revealed by the Home Office.
Crime figures
Burglary 2008/9 587 2009/10 592 Up 0.9 per cent
Burglary (non dwelling) 2008/9 344 2009/10 329 Down 4.4 per cent
Burglary (dwelling) 2008/9 243 2009/10 263 Up 8.2 per cent
Criminal damage 2008/9 1,978 2009/10 1,692 Down -14.4 per cent
Drug offences 2008/9 273 2009/10 345 Up 26.4 per cent
Fraud and forgery 2008/9 222 2009/10 298 Up 34.2 per cent
Offences against vehicles 2008/9 561 2009/10 580 Up 3.4 per cent
Other offences 2008/9 96 2009/10 103 Up 7.3 per cent
Other theft offences 2008/9 2,215 2009/10 2,205 Down 0.5 per cent
Robbery
2008/9 60 2009/10 68 Up 13.3 per cent
Sexual offences 2008/9 94 2009/10 107 Up 13.8 per cent
Violence against the person (with injury) 2008/9 621 2009/10721 Up 16.1 per cent
Violence against the person (without injury) 2008/9 848 2009/10 926 Up 9.2 per cent
Tackling crime
"We're very pleased to see a significant reduction of criminal damage this year," said neighbourhood police team inspector Jason Wilson.
"This is due to the work put in by ourselves and our partner agencies like the council."
To tackle the rise in drug-related crimes, Worthing police are running an operation targeting offences and dealers.
"We will continue targeting drug dealers where we find them," said Insp Wilson.
"We have identified these offences and are dealing with the perpetrators."
Online buying
Insp Wilson said fraud and forgery, which includes offences like online auction scams, bogus cheques and identity theft, was "a really challenging one".
He added: "People should be extremely cautious and sensible online when buying anything."
Sussex Police celebrated a total reduction in reported crime of six per cent.
This decrease puts the county's police force in the top 12 of the lowest crime rates in England and Wales.
The figures show improvements across most categories of crime in Sussex, including vehicle crime, violence, domestic burglary and robberies.
Sussex also had a 29 per cent detection rate compared with the national average of 26 per cent.
When asked if they think the police are doing a good job, 59 per cent of people in Sussex say they are, compared with 56 per cent nationally.
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Weather for Worthing
Saturday 04 February 2012
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