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Crime lowest for over decade
DESPITE a stubborn rise in petty violent offences, recorded crime in Camden is at its lowest for more than a decade, new figures have revealed.
Home Office crime statistics for 2008/9 showed that with two murders in a year, Camden enjoyed a lower homicide rate than any of its neighbouring boroughs, while reported burglaries and robberies both fell at faster rates than in London as a whole.
Ninety-four people a day on average still become victims of crime in Camden, but the total number of crimes reported in the borough last year – 34,154 – was over 1,000 less than the year before and 12,000 lower than in 2000.
Police chiefs were this week keen to stress reductions in youth and knife crime, which is down by a third on last year.
Chief Superintendent Dominic Clout, Borough Commander for Camden Police, said: “Whilst we must never be complacent, the fall in recorded crime is welcome news.
“Anti-social behaviour and youth violence remains our top priority.”
The latest gains come two years into a joint effort with Camden Council to tackle the drugs market in Camden Town. Although the council’s CCTV figures show that the partnership has struggled to cut visible drug dealing, sharp falls in robbery and other crimes committed to raise cash for drugs have been credited to the campaign.
Last week, the New Journal learned that the police will continue with Operation Staysafe, in which officers patrol the streets at night, taking unaccompanied minors home or to a holding centre staffed by social workers.
The operation has been compared to a curfew for teenagers by youth councillors. |
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