Police reveal crime stats for the past year

Thames Valley Police revealed the state of crime across the area as it unveiled local crime stats today.

The latest police figures have painted a fairly positive picture of crime in the Royal Borough.

Overall crime is down by 8.2 per cent from 14,092 incidents recorded to 12,933 in the last year from April to March compared to 2007/8.

The ongoing problem of theft from vehicles has reduced in some areas, with reports in Windsor down by 25.9 per cent, from 990 to 734 while in Ascot reported incidents fell by 28.3 per cent, from 166 to 119.

But in Maidenhead, theft from a vehicle is up 6.9 per cent from 1003 to 1072, although theft of a motor vehicle has dopped by 18.1 per cent.

Speaking at a meeting in Maidenhead's Town Hall today, Supt Tim De Meyer urged residents not to leave simple things like bottles of water on display in their cars.

He said: "People with a drug problem may see a bottle of water and break in as they are so desperate for something at that moment."

Another area of crime that is on the up in the borough is drug offences. These have risen by 7.4 per cent from 364 to 391.

In neighbouring Slough the total crime is up over the 'police year' ending last month, but Supt Chris Shead said the rate of increase is going down rapidly.

When he arrived in Slough last September crime figures were rising by 19 per cent annually, he said, but this has slowed to an annual increase of 6 per cent.

At a briefing at Slough headquarters today, he said 'serious sex and violence' crimes are showing a decrease, while cops are targeting more known burglars and are setting successful 'trap cars' to nab thieves.

A major downside is that street robberies, particularly involving the under 20s, are on the increase, while violence and assaults are also showing a sharp rise.

One alarming statistic is that 40 per cent of the victims of robberies are youngsters under the age of 20.

Burglaries are 10 per cent down, which means 130 fewer victims than the previous year.