Violent crime rises

VIOLENT crime increased by over 17 per cent in the Weald Division between April and August.

Figures released this week show that 730 incidents of violence were recorded across the division during the summer - a jump of 17.3 per cent. The target is to reduce violent crime by five per cent across the division.

The figures are even worse for the Crowborough sector. With 124 incidents of violent crime recorded between April and August, the figures increased 45.2 per cent.

However, the numbers of burglaries recorded in the division fell by 29.9 per cent between April and August, with 189 house burglaries being recorded. The division target was a drop of four per cent against 1999/2000 figures.

Recorded burglaries fell by 22.6 per cent in the Crowborough sector with 39 burglaries recorded and recorded burglaries of households in Uckfield fell by 46.3 per cent with only 17 burglaries being recorded.

However, the detection rate for burglaries in Crowborough and Uckfield was 5.1 and 5.9 per cent respectively, against the division target of 18 per cent.

Total recorded crime in the division rose by 2.4 per cent with 4,734 crimes recorded. The public will have the opportunity to ask questions about crime figures, or any other issue, at a meeting of the North Wealden Police Community Forum, at Uckfield Civic Centre next Thursday at 7.30pm.