Crime falling, claims prospective new policing boss

In the 12 months up to March 2012, total recorded crime across the county fell by more than the national average to 40,795 offences.

According to the Office For National Statistics, crime across England and Wales fell by four per cent. Only 11 out of 41 police forces saw crime fall by more than six per cent.

Jas Parmar, the Conservative candidate for the new role of Police And Crime Commissioner ahead of November’s election, claimed that these figures show that cutting red tape had to be the next priority.

He said: “These official figures are a welcome sign of the good work Bedfordshire police are doing fighting crime locally but Labour refuse to accept that it is possible to find efficiencies and better ways of working.

“Bedfordshire Police have shown that you can protect the frontline and cut crime while reducing police budgets and reforming policing. They should be congratulated but all we get from Labour is cheap opportunism about privatisation and cuts.

“My priority is simple: to cut crime by tackling anti-social behaviour, slashing the red-tape which stops police fighting crime and being a strong voice for local people and victims.

“Over the next few months I will be out and about, listening to local people’s concerns about crime and policing and setting out how I plan to bring local crime down even more in the future.”

Overall Bedfordshire had the fourth-largest reduction in burglary offences, with a 20 per cent fall in domestic burglaries and 24 per cent drop in non-domestic burglaries.

Bedfordshire also had the highest detection rate of any force for sexual offences, which saw a 21 per cent drop in the number of offences.

The Police And Crime Commissioner role will mean one person oversees policing across the county after the November 15 election.

As well as Mr Parmar the candidates so far revealed are Olly Martins from the Labour Party, and Kevin Carroll who is a member of the right-wing English Defence League.

A spokesman for Beds Police said: “This report shows the force remains determined to drive down those crimes that most harm communities including burglary, robbery and violence as well as bringing to justice those responsible.

“While these figures are historic, what they do show is the success Bedfordshire Police is having in reversing previous trends and we remain committed to fighting crime and protecting the public.”

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