15 Apr Police Update March 2015
The BID’s police team have been busy during the last month, patrolling the area and targeting crime affecting businesses in the town centre.
Many arrests have been made for a variety of offences including shoplifting to the value of over £1000, carrying a knife, anti-social behaviour in King Street and criminal damage offences. Overall though TNO’s (Total Notifiable offences – all listed crime) have gone up slightly on the previous year but have still steadily decreased over the last five years. For example there are 2211 fewer offences now than in January 2010.
Also crimes affecting town centre visitors and staff such as theft from person, theft from shops and business property are all down compared to previous years which is a very encouraging sign. Other crimes such as theft of pedal cycle, theft of motor vehicle and criminal damage are being addressed through sting operations and target hardening training to ensure that criminals are given fewer opportunities to commit offences and to increase the chances of being caught if they do.