Only Scilly Isles safer than the Dales!

16 July 2010

New Home Office figures reveal only 23 crimes per thousand people in the Dales – from 25 crimes per thousand last year – a reduction of 7% on 2008/09 and by far the lowest figure in Derbyshire.

Burglary is down by 14% to one per thousand people – bettered only by the Isles of Scilly, where there were no burglaries at all in the past year!

Dales residents are also among the least likely in England and Wales to be the victim of a robbery, with only nine such offences last year.

Few districts in the whole of England have a lower crime rate than the Derbyshire Dales.  The 23 crimes per thousand people statistic is the best in Derbyshire, where the county average is 40.  At the other end of the scale, the City of Westminster’s crime rate per thousand people is 96.

The figures were welcomed by Derbyshire Dales District Council. Leader Councillor Lewis Rose OBE, who is also Chairman of the Safer Derbyshire Dales Community Safety Partnership, said: “Crime in the Dales reduced in 2008/09 and to achieve another reduction in the past year is really encouraging and an endorsement of the way we listen to what local people are saying and act on their concerns.

“These figures, achieved against a tough economic backdrop, prove the continuing efforts of the police, the District Council and our other partners are succeeding in keeping the Derbyshire Dales a safe place to live, work and visit.”

Visit the Derbyshire Constabulary website for quotes and a countywide picture of the crime statistics.