Crime falls but robberies up

The Met Police yesterday announced overall crime in London had fallen to an eight year low between April 2006 and March 2007.

In Bromley, there have been 2,369 less crimes across the borough.

Bromley Police have announced a reduction in 11 out of 12 types of crime.

Among the biggest falls is pick-pocketing, down by nearly 42 per cent, and vehicle theft, which has fallen by around a quarter.

Vehicle tampering has fallen by just over 30 per cent and gun crime is down by around 16 per cent.

However, personal robbery offences have risen by more than 20 per cent.

A Bromley Police spokesman said there were 990 offences of this type across the borough in the past year.

He says part of the reason for the increase could be down to Bromley being the largest London borough, which attracts a lot of people from outside the area to its schools, stations and night spots.

Borough commander chief superintendent Charles Griggs said: "The robbery figures show an increase, but this peaked in the early part of last year and robberies have been falling constantly for the last three months.

"We will be working hard to ensure this continues throughout the coming year and we will maintain our relentless targeting of criminals in Bromley, working to ensure that it remains one of the safest boroughs to live and work in".

Crime figures for Bromley:

• Residential burglary - down by 5.5 per cent

• Motor vehicle theft - down by 24.4 per cent

• Vehicle interference and tampering - down by 30.8 per cent

• Theft from motor vehicle - down by 6.8 per cent

• Snatch theft offences - down by 19.1 per cent

• Pickpocketing - down by 41.4 per cent

• Cycle theft - down by 5.8 per cent

• Criminal damage - down by 11.4 per cent

• Assaults - down by 4.3 per cent

• Gun crime - down by 16.3 per cent

• Knife crime - down by 5 per cent

• Personal robbery - up by 21.3 per cent

• Overall crime - down by 7.7 per cent