Crime Maps & Performance
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Local Confidence Survey Results
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Constabulary Performance to end of January 2010
Crime levels in Hertfordshire continue to fall with over 5,000 fewer crimes recorded between April 2009 and January 2010 (‘this year’) when compared with the same period the previous year*. Levels of home burglary, robbery and vehicle crime have fallen and shoplifting has returned to the same levels as last year*. Detection rates in most categories are above last years* levels and continue to improve while crimes involving young re-offenders have fallen by 26%. The Constabulary continues to perform well when compared to other forces and continues to be above average when compared to its Most Similar Force (MSF**).
While acquisitive crime has fallen significantly violent crime has not seen a similar trend. Incidents of serious violent crime and serious sex offences (although both small in number), show slight increases (see below). However the force still has the lowest level of incidence and the highest detection rate for serious violent crime and the lowest level of serious sex offences in its MSF** Domestic violence incidents have also increased and repeat incidents of domestic violence have unfortunately increased by 25%.
Total crime in the county has reduced by 7.6% this year* with over 5,000 fewer crimes. While the force has dropped to 4th in its MSF** for recorded crime it has maintained its 3rd position for detections of crime. The force is still expected to meet its Policing Plan*** targets to reduce crime by 4% from the 2007/08 baseline and improve sanction detection rates.
Home Burglaries continue to decrease across the county with nearly 15% fewer crimes this year*. The force remains 5th in its MSF** for the level of crime and 3rd for detection of burglaries. It is currently just under the Policing Plan*** target for the year*. The level of burglaries in Broxbourne also reduced and is now only 13 above last years* total of 479.
Robbery also continues to fall and with only 536 crimes for the year* across the whole of the county. Only Dacorum and Three Rivers have seen increases on last years* level of crime. The detection rate is better than last year* and the force is 4th in its MSF** for the level of crime and 3rd for detections.
Vehicle Crime has fallen by 17% when compared to last year* and is down in all parts of the county. Detections rates are slightly above last year* but are just under the Policing Plan*** target. The force has slipped to 6th in MSF** for the number of crimes and 3rd in MSF** for detections. A recent spate of disabled badge thefts has given rise for concern in Broxbourne and the force is working with local councils to combat this.
Serious Violent Crimes have increased by 27 to 318 crimes across the county this year* however the detection rate has also increased and the force has the lowest level of crime and highest detection rate in its MSF**. However Three Rivers remains a concern as it has the lowest detection rate in the county and Stevenage is of concern as this type of crime has doubled from 25 to 52 crimes this year*.
There has also been a increase of 11 Serious Sex Offences this year* and a 1% fall in the detection rate however the force has the lowest level of crime in its MSF** and is 3rd for the detection of these crimes. The level of Domestic Violence crime has increased by 97 crimes this year* and the number of repeat victims has increased by 175 in the same period. Domestic Violence is one of the hardest categories of crime to police, however the force is 3rd lowest in its MSF** for both the level of incidents and the number of incidents involving repeat victims.
Shoplifting crimes are now below the levels recorded last year* and the detection rate remains 4% above last year*. The force has the 3rd lowest level of crime and the 3rd highest detection rate in its MSF**
Neighbourhood Policing teams are currently spending 89% of their time on duties or tasks directly connected to the day-to-day business of their neighbourhoods or in support of their Neighbourhood team, which is above their performance target. While PCSO visibility is also above target at 82.2%
*Reporting periods – please note that the figures above are usually reported as ‘this month’; meaning a comparison of the current month to the same month last year, or ‘this year’; meaning April 09 to the current month this year compared to April 08 to the same month last year.
**MSF = Most Similar Force is a group of police forces defined by the Home Office with similar socio-demographic characteristics to Hertfordshire. The grouping enables us to put performance into context by allowing like-with-like comparisons. The other forces in our MSF are; Bedfordshire, Essex, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Avon & Somerset and Thames Valley.
***Policing Plan The Authority publishes a new policing plan each year at the end of March. This document sets out all the key priorities and targets for the Constabulary for the forthcoming three years. The plan referred to above can be found on this the Policing Plan page.
Last updated: 23rd February 2010
Please refer to the glossary for explanations of terminology used in Constabulary and Policy Authority reports.
- Glossary (Word doc 692kb)