(a)

Home Office figures released in January 2011 had shown that Devon and Cornwall was the third safest force area in England and Wales, showing 53 crimes per 1000 population compared to 76 nationally;

(b)

between 1 April 2011 and 20 February 2012 levels of overall crime in Plymouth had increased by three per cent (an increase of 547 crimes) compared to the same period last year; this was largely attributable to the increases in serious acquisitive crime, particularly dwelling burglaries and theft from motor vehicles;

(c)

currently there were six priority neighbourhoods that had recorded an increase in overall crime (Mutley/Greenbank, Whitleigh, East End, Devonport, Honicknowle and Morice Town);

(d)

the partnership efforts and interventions overall had seemed to have a positive impact on curbing the levels of serious acquisitive crime, which included –

?

Mutley/Greenbank had seen a fall in domestic burglaries between October 15 2011 and 8 February 2012; 17.2 per cent fewer burglaries were reported compared to the same period the previous year; also the detection rate had also improved in the same period, raising from 13.7 per cent to 24.5 per cent;

?

between 1 April 2011 and 20 February 2012 numbers of ‘theft from vehicles’ was now only showing a rise of 1.1 per cent (plus nine) on the same period the year before; this represented a significant improvement on the position reported in October 2011 which at that point was showing a year to date increase of 19.7 per cent on the same period the year before;

?

as at the end of January 2012, a stable position had been reported within the similar family group for ‘theft of motor vehicles’ as third best and were currently showing a reduction of -9.8 per cent (minus 35);

?

Plymouth’s position in its family group of similar cities for ‘serious acquisitive crime’ had improved to second best (out of 15) from third place;

?

Plymouth’s position in its family group of similar cities for ‘domestic burglary’ had improved to third best (out of 15) from fourth place;

?

Plymouth’s position in its family group of similar cities for ‘theft of vehicles’ had improved to second best (out of 15) from fourth place;

(e)

a significant amount of work had been undertaken to address the levels of serious acquisitive crime, such as –

?

a surgery had been held for neighbourhood liaison officers in Stonehouse, East End, Mount Gould, Mutley/Greenbank and Stoke neighbourhoods, to support them in providing information and advice to disseminate to those communities most affected by serious acquisitive crime;

?

increased use of the Police CCTV Partnership Van across the city including the hotspots of serious acquisitive crime;

(f)

between 1 April 2011 and 20 February 2012 the levels of serious acquisitive crime rose by 10.6 per cent (an increase of 244) compared to the same period in the previous year; the number of dwelling burglaries had increased during the same period 27. 5 per cent (an increase of 212) and the number of theft from vehicles had increased by 1.1 percent (an increase of 9);

(g)

a wide range of work was being undertaken to address the increases in serious acquisitive crimes, which included –

?

working on a multi agency response to the findings of the Offender Profile and development of an action plan to widen activities to lower level offenders;

?

the continuation of the covert operations and activities by the police including the use of various ‘bait’ tactics.

(h)

figures had shown a displacement of criminal activity from Devonport to the north of the city; work was being undertaken to introduce accountability and ownership of geographical areas and the realignment of investigative resources which would provide more links with officers at a local level;

(i)

‘response targets’ were being met across the city, although there were challenges in getting out to the outlying areas;

(j)

detection rates had increased;

(k)

there was no evidence to suggest that the reduction in the number of police officers was having a detrimental impact of the levels of crime;

(l)

a written response would be provided regarding the targeting of police resources relating to attendance at community/association and residents’ meetings (in order to achieve the right level of engagement resulting in a reduction the crimes levels);

(m)

 ‘Smartwater’ was currently having a positive impact on the detection of crimes by forensically linking offenders to the scene of the crime/stolen goods (particularly dwelling burglary and theft of/from vehicles).