People living in the Dyfed-Powys area are feeling safer, more secure and more confident in their local police, figures released last week reveal. During 2007/08, recorded crime across the Force fell by 15 per cent compared to a fall across England and Wales of nine per cent. Over the same period, a detection rate of 42 per cent was achieved, the highest proportion in any force and significantly higher than the 28 per cent average for England and Wales as a whole. "These figures are excellent news for communities across our Force area and show that we live and work in the safest area in the whole of England and Wales," said Chief Constable Ian Arundale. "The picture portrayed in many sections of the media is that violent crime is on the increase, but last year this force secured a 23 per cent drop in recorded offences of violence against the person and a 26 per cent drop in more serious violent crime," said Mr. Arundale, who took up his post in June. As well as major reductions in offences of violence, the Dyfed-Powys Force achieved reductions in virtually all crime categories, including: Sexual offences down by 16 per cent; criminal damage down by 17 per cent; domestic burglary and vehicle crime both down by three per cent; robbery down by two per cent. "Figures showing that crime is going down are vital in increasing public confidence in the work that we are doing, but it is equally important that people across our Force area should genuinely feel safer," Mr. Arundale added. "The British Crime Survey measures people's confidence in the police on a rolling basis and last year, 56 per cent of people surveyed thought their local police in this area did a good or excellent job, compared to an England and Wales average of 53 per cent. "Similarly, 68 per cent of people in our area felt they were treated fairly by the police compared to an England and Wales average of 64 per cent and 85 per cent felt they would be treated with respect compared to an average of 83 per cent. "From my perspective, it is even more pleasing that 62 per cent of people in this area felt that my officers could be relied on to deal with minor crimes compared to an average figure of 43 per cent. It is often the low level crime and anti-social behaviour that adversely impacts on people's lives, so it is pleasing to see that a significant proportion of the public in this area feel that we can be relied upon to tackle such issues," Mr. Arundale went on. "These figures are excellent news for everyone living in, working in or visiting the Dyfed-Powys area. Clearly we will not be complacent and will work hard with our partners to reduce crime even further, increase the proportion of crimes that we detect and make the public in this area more satisfied with and confident in the policing service that we provide," he concluded.
