Portlanders winning the battle against crime (From Thisisdorset)

Portlanders winning the battle against crime

1:30pm Saturday 11th February 2012 in Latest By Samantha Harman

PORTLANDERS have spoken of their relief to see crime figures slashed on the island.

Portland’s Safer Neighbourhood Team said they are winning the battle against yobs and criminals with a reduction in anti-social behaviour and crime.

Latest figures show a 14.5 percent reduction in crime comparing April 2010 to February 2011 against April 2011 to February 2012.

There were 114 fewer crimes reported in this period and anti-social behaviour was reduced by more than 20 percent.

There have been a number of high profile police operations on Portland over the last year in response to residents’ concerns and officers have set up meetings with communities.

Portland resident Debbie Lindo said: “I have noticed a real difference.

“I live quite near to a football pitch and the youths used to congregate there but now there is much less of that.”

Sergeant Samuel Goom of Portland’s Safer Neighbour-hood Team said: “I am pleased with the latest results. The Portland Safer Neighbourhood Team has worked hard and will continue to work hard to combat anti-social behaviour and related crime on the island.”

Deputy neighbourhood inspector Neil Wood said: “These are tremendous results for Portland that are the result of continual hard work by Dorset Police and our many partners.”

But residents say they hope police cutbacks will not undo all of the hard work.

Tophill East councillor and deputy mayor Margaret Leicester said: “I am not getting the amount of complaints I used to get.

“Easton Gardens and Underhill near the British Legion used to be big areas of concern where youths were hanging around, sometimes drinking or taking drugs. But I have not had my phone ringing about it for quite a while.

“For people living in the area, this is good news and I hope it can continue.

“Budget cuts are a concern- they’re bound to have an impact. I just hope that the government sees sense and gives us sufficient funds to keep it up.

“I hope they take onboard the things that have been said by the public and make things liveable for everybody.”

Debbie Lindo added: “I hope that cutbacks won’t t effect community policing too much. That would be a shame because anti-social behaviour has been reduced.”

Yvonne Bevan of Revive Portland said: “Any reduction in crime is clearly a good thing, no matter how much. But these figures show quite a substantial difference and that’s great for the island. I am very pleased.”

HOW THE FIGURES COMPARE

Comparing the period 01/04/2010 to 08/02/2011 against 01/04/2011 to 08/02/2012 the results revealed the following.

• Total record crime showed a reduction of 14.5 % (114 fewer crimes reported).

• Total instances of reported anti social behaviour reduced 20.9% (172 fewer reported instances of ASB).

• Total amount of instances reported to police including all matters reduced 9.4% (282 fewer instances).