September 8, 2011
The level of overall crime in Eastbourne has reduced by 18% in the last four years, exceeding targets in the majority of crime categories.
The number of recorded crimes in the town fell dramatically to around 7,500 in 2010-2011 from 11,500 in 2005/06.
The reductions have been welcomed as a notable success for the Eastbourne Community Safety Partnership, (formerly the Eastbourne Crime Reduction Partnership), which is a partner organisation involving the police, the council and other members.
Cllr Margaret Bannister, Portfolio Holder for the Eastbourne Community Safety Partnership, said:
“This is a superb achievement for the community and the Partnership who have been working extremely hard to ensure that residents benefit from living in a safe environment.
“The Partnership is determined to maintain this downward trend of crime in the town.”
Crucial to the success achieved to date has been the Crime Reduction Plan of 2008-11, and crime is continuing to reduce under this scheme. A new Community Safety Plan (CSP) for 2011-2014 is now being implemented to maintain crime reduction locally.
Since 2007 to the end of March this year, crime reduction has exceeded targets in the following areas:
Crime Down Target reduction (%)
Burglary dwelling 39% -15%
Vehicle Crime 15% -15%
Criminal damage 28% -20%
Arson 36% -25%
Devonshire Ward Crime 23% -20%
Public Place Violent Crime 22% -20%
Jayne Dando, Eastbourne Police District Commander said:
“Eastbourne is a great place to live and visit and these reductions show the lengths we as a partnership will go to keep crime going down and make Eastbourne an even safer place, which does not tolerate criminality or Anti Social Behaviour. The strength of this success has been in the excellent partner working and the involvement and support of our communities. We are in a strong position and will continue to work to build stronger more confident communities.”
Shoplifting was also down 10% and anti-social behaviour down 15%.
This feat is especially significant given the challenge of government cutbacks to the council which adversely impacted on Community Safety Partnership funding.
Areas where crimes did not meet the -15% target include robbery and burglary other than dwelling which were up 17% and 11%, respectively.
