The Metropolitan Police are hailing new crime statistics which they say mark a 'spectacular success' in the fight against crime.

Crime levels in Hounslow Borough fell by over 7% over the last year well above the London wide fall of 1.8%. However, the figures show an increase in burglaries of 2.3% in the borough, compared with a drop across London of 7.1% Nevertheless burglaries in London are at a 29 year low.

Borough Commander Jeff Harris was delighted with the figures which show that there are 200 hundred less victims of crime a month in his area. There were falls in key areas such as street crime, vehicle crime, race hate crime, violent offences and weapons related crime.

He said the main disappointment was the increase in burglaries but he pointed out that much of that increase was down to one crack addict who recently admitted to 60 offences of residential burglary.

He added, " What we are going to do next year is work even harder to catch more criminals and bring more to justice - remembering that this does not always mean a magistrates' court. For example, anyone arrested for drunken disorderly behaviour or anti-social behaviour in this borough will at the very least receive a £80 fixed penalty ticket. This will save the Police time, effort and mean they get back on the streets quicker."

Chief Superintendent Harris told us that the long process of introducing dedicated Police Teams - a Sergeant, two PC's and Three PCSO's -on each ward is making progress. The process will take some time but by October three wards will have teams.

He said, "I wholeheartedly believe these teams will make immense differences to the quality of life for our community. It's not actually new as in 1829 Sir Richard Mayne - Home Secretary at the time of the founding of the Met. Police - stated quite clearly what the aim of the Police was - and it's almost exactly the same as what we want to do today ! The difference is that - provided the money is forthcoming from H.M Govt and the GLA/Mayo'rs Office/MPA - we are beginning to have the numbers of Police available to make things happen."

Key results for Hounslow in 2003 - 2004 include...

• Over 7% drop in street crimes through Operation Safer Streets employing high visibility and undercover tactics
• 11% cut in auto-crime through raising awareness, partnership activity, targeted patrolling, and use of CCTV
• 7% reduction in all crime with fewer residents, workers and visitors suffering injury, loss or harm last year
• 24 new Police Community Support Officer’s on high visibility patrols, impacting on drug supply, shoplifting, burglary and fear of crime
• 13 Anti Social Behaviour Orders issued and 60 Acceptable Behaviour Contracts

The results were praised by Hounslow's candidate for the London Assembly, Seema Malhotra. Seema said "The success reflected in these figures is the direct result of deliberately tough and testing targets set by the MPA, the big increase in police numbers, effective community and borough-based partnerships, and the unstinting effort put in by police officers across Hounslow".

"The introduction of Police Community Support Officers across Hounslow is also starting to make a real difference in deterring nuisance and anti-social crimes. I'm confident that we'll see greater improvements across the board as dedicated police teams are introduced under the Safer Neighbourhoods initiative."

Across London, burglary is down 7.1 per cent to a 29 year low, auto-crime down 7.1 per cent and there has been a 4.2 per cent reduction in street crime offences.

Seema Malhotra continued "There are more police in London than ever before thanks to the work of Ken Livingstone and the London Assembly. These figures show that our investment in the Metropolitan Police is paying dividends."

	Apr 2003 - Mar 2004		Apr 2002 - Mar 2003
	Hounslow	MPS Total	Hounslow	MPS Total
Total Crimes	30,416	1,060,930	32,842	1,080,741
Homicide	7	211	2	195
Robbery	820	40,640	954	42,496
Street Crime	1,139	56,455	1,228	58,929
Burglary (Total)	3,450	105,361	3,374	113,427
Burglary Residential	2,131	67,996	1,968	72,237
Burglary Non-Residential	1,319	37,365	1,406	41,190
Gun Crime	80	3,576	91	3,862
Vehicle Crime	7,142	225,610	8,025	242,843
Sexual Offences	285	10,200	308	10,427
Violence Against the Person (Total)	6,946	186,188	7,110	178,802
Grievous Bodily Harm	112	4,908	139	4,935
Actual Bodily Harm	1,383	38,219	1,633	37,342
Common Assault	3,096	88,093	3,159	86,728
Possession of an Offensive Weapon	169	8,758	168	8,340
Harassment	1,619	33,591	1,567	30,940
Other Violence	560	12,415	442	10,328