New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show Suffolk had the fourth lowest crime rate in England and Wales for the year ending March 2024.
Total reported crime is down in Suffolk
The big picture: ONS data places Suffolk fourth among counties in England and Wales for the lowest recorded crime rates in England and Wales. In 2020, the county was ranked 13th, showing a marked improvement.
By the numbers:
Total recorded crime in Suffolk fell 12% in the year to March 2024
There were 59.7 crimes per 1,000 people, down from the previous year
Percentage changes in recorded crimes from March 2023 to March 2024:
Stalking and harassment: down 29%
Knife crime: down 28.8%
Public order: down 24.5%
Theft from person: down 8.7%
Drug offending: down 17.1%
Vehicle offences: down 16.5%
Robbery: down 16.6%
Violence against the person: down 14.5%
Residential burglary: down 10.6%
Possession of weapons: down 2.6%
Yes, but business burglaries and shoplifting is up
Yes, but: The force did see rises in non-residential burglary crime and shoplifting:
Non-residential burglary: up 14.5%
Shoplifting: up 5.8%
What they're saying
Suffolk Police
Deputy Chief Constable Rob Jones said: “I hope people can feel encouraged that these results demonstrate just how hard we are all working to keep people of Suffolk safe and to solve crime and catch criminals.”
DCC Jones added: “The drop in knife crime is very encouraging but there is always more we can do. Our proactive approach with dedicated teams that target knife crime and its root causes are reaping reward. This includes intelligence-led deployments, weapons sweeps and high-visibility patrols to target and disrupt offenders. We also work closely with schools and colleges to educate on the dangers of carrying a knife.
On the subject of increasing non-residential burglaries and shoplifting, DCC Jones said:
“Shoplifting and business burglary still provide us with challenges to address and these figures and trends remain under close scrutiny for us.
“I would reassure retailers who are the victims that we do take action where we have the evidence and in some cases perpetrators can be facing a jail sentence.
“It’s vital that we work with businesses and that they continue to report these crimes so we can investigate and look to prosecute when possible. I’d also remind businesses to check their CCTV is in good order as it is invaluable in providing evidence.
“We can’t do this by ourselves and the support and assistance we receive from the public is absolutely key. We are committed to preventing crime in partnership with our local authorities, businesses and the voluntary sector to solve problems together.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk
Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore added:
“This is another very good set of results which I am sure all Suffolk residents and businesses will really welcome.
“We have a small force, one of the lowest funded in the country and it covers one of the largest geographical areas. I truly believe the Suffolk Constabulary punches above its weight and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank officers and staff for their commitment.
“Suffolk is a safe county but there is of course absolutely no room for complacency so the Constabulary must continue to provide a high level of support to all victims.
“The pattern of crime changes relentlessly and we know low crime helps improve prosperity which benefits everyone, that’s why the focus will remain on tackling crime and bringing offenders to justice.”
The bottom line: While there is always more that can be done and some areas for improvement remain, it should be celebrated that crime is down across our county.
Great, but what about Ipswich?
ONS only publish their at a county level so Ipswich.co.uk has extensively analysed local crime and policing effectiveness in Ipswich and will publish it's findings in a series of articles in the coming weeks, so make sure you subscribe to our daily roundup.
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