Hailsham: Crime figures take a leap

An additional 173 crimes have been reported during April and May this year compared with figures last year.

Theft from vehicles is up an astonishing 128 per cent with just one of the 123 reported cases solved so far.

Burglary other than from inside homes is also up 61 per cent or 35 more crimes.

Insp Tim Piloni, of Hailsham Police, said: 'The overall trend for the entire division was up overall which is very disappointing.'

He said the Home Office has changed recording methods of some crimes which has an affect on the figures.

'We are finding across the force that there is an increase in certain types of crime which previously would have been treated differently,' he said.

'We are conscious that vehicle crime and burglary has increased despite some of the initiatives we have put in place. We are committed to preventing and detecting these crimes.'

Despite the poor outlook, drug offences were down by 78 per cent, violent crime remains unchanged, and there has been 12 per cent fewer theft of vehicles.

Insp Piloni said initiatives like Operation Gnome (distraction burglaries) and high visibility policing in rural areas are aimed at curbing criminal activity. He said these would continue.

The latest crime figures will be discussed at the Police and South Wealden Community Consultative Group public meeting on Tuesday at Willingdon Community School in Broad Road starting at 7.30pm.

Published: 13.7.01 Sussex Newspapers Ltd