County crime falls despite budget cuts

During the first six months of the financial year crime dipped by 9.1 per cent, with 576 fewer cases recorded.

The fall in Telford & Wrekin was smaller, down by just 0.2 per cent from 4,835 to 4,827 incidents.

Meanwhile, across the West Mercia Police area, which also covers Herefordshire and Worcestershire, crime fell by 7.7 per cent from 32,067 to 29,583 cases between April and September, compared to the same period last year.

The drop in crime comes despite cuts to police resources. West Mercia is closing police stations and axing jobs in a bid to save more than £30 million by 2015.

But police and Crime Commissioner for the force, Bill Longmore, said today: "This is good news for local communities across West Mercia. It proves that cutting crime remains the force's focus despite the significant funding challenges we face."

Across the county there were 5,787 crimes compared to 6,363 during the same period last year. Domestic burglary was also down 34.3 per cent, with a total of 249 burglaries compared to 379, including about 24.9 per cent solved, up from 19.8 per cent last year.

Violent crime against a person resulting in injury was down by nearly 30 per cent on this time last year, with 543 attacks compared to 772, including 56.9 per cent of offences solved, up from 51.6 per cent last year.

Robbery also reduced by five per cent from 37 last year to 35 this year.

In Telford & Wrekin, burglary is down 32.5 per cent from 251 from 372, with a solved rate of 15.5 per cent, up 0.4 per cent on last year.

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