Lewisham in top ten 'dangerous places' (From News Shopper)

Lewisham in top ten 'dangerous places'

10:52am Monday 1st September 2008

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LEWISHAM has been named among the top ten most violent places in the country and the top five most violent boroughs in London.

Research by the personal safety charity, Suzy Lamplugh Trust, based on figures from the Home Office, found 33 out of 1000 people were victims of "violence against the person" in the 2007/08 financial year.

In this period there were 8, 376 violent offences committed against people in Lewisham - an increase of 314 from the previous year meaning the borough jumps up ten places.

The report comes after seven murders in the borough from July last year to July this year.

However, Lewisham police's head of partnership, Superintendent Lisa Crook, defended the police pointing to a 8.6 percent drop in the number of wounding offences and a 16 percent reduction in crimes involving the possession of offensive weapons.

She said: "The increases in violent crime have been at the less serious end of the scale including harassment and common assault arising from domestic violence situations.

"We will strive to better our past achievements and still further reduce crime, but it should be remembered that for the majority of people in the borough, Lewisham remains a vibrant, exciting and safe place to live, work and enjoy."

Meanwhile the Mayor of Lewisham, Sir Steve Bullock, said: "We will place extra emphasis on working with schools and community groups to help reinforce a more widely recognised social and moral code of conduct.

"We are very keen to continue to involve the local community in setting priorities and we will continue to address any fear of crime."

Violence against the person offences in England and Wales per 1,000 population (2007/08):

Most dangerous places:

1. North Manchester - 44

2. Sheffield - 40

3. Southampton - 38

4. City of Westminster - 36

5. Leicester City - 34

6. Middlesbrough - 34

7. Hackney - 34

8. Kingston Upon Hull - 33

9. Southwark - 33

10. Lewisham - 33

"Violence against the person" crimes include:

Murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, grievous bodily harm, harassment, common assault, possession of weapons with intent.

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