Thames Valley Police released our crime figures for 13/14

There have been a number of positive results for the South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse.

Within the last financial year we were the second best performing Local Police Area in Thames Valley delivering:

• 5.6% reduction in Dwelling Burglary.
• 37.4% detection rate in Dwelling Burglary.
• 37.0% detection rate in Rape.
• 61.3% detection rate in Violence against the Person with Injury.
• 6% reduction in Violence against the Person with Injury.

LPA Area Commander Supt Andy Boyd said:
“Once again I am really pleased to inform you that during the last twelve months we have been able to reduce crime whilst increasing the number of offenders we have brought to justice. During the last year we have reduced crime by 0.2%. Whilst this is a modest decrease, it should be viewed in the context of our success in reducing crime by over 38% in the last ten years. There were, last year, over a 1000 less victims of crime than there were two years ago.

“Whilst we are extremely proud of these achievements we do not under estimate the challenges of maintaining these levels of performance and we are committed to striving to further reduce crime.

“Contrary to what some sections of the media would have you believe, within South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse the overwhelming majority of the public have a great deal of trust and confidence in the Police. It is this relationship with the public which has enabled us to deliver sustained reductions in crime; we cannot detect crime without the support of the public. We rely on the public to tell us when they are victims of crime, to tell us when they see something suspicious and to give evidence at court in order for us to bring offenders to justice. It is our role to keep the public safe, we recognise our unique relationship with the public in which we are reliant on their trust in order to fulfil our duties, we will endeavour this year to enhance and build on this relationship.

“We will over the next year continue to develop our Neighbourhood Watch Schemes and community messaging across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse. These schemes enable us to further develop our relationship with local communities enabling us to let them know what is happening and how they can help us keep them safe and protect their property. If you would like to discuss how we can enhance the schemes in your local area please do let me know and I will arrange for a member of our neighbourhood team to contact you.

“As I regularly point out we have not reduced crime on our own and I am extremely grateful for the continuing help and support from both South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils, the Community Safety Partnership and all those volunteers who support us through the Special Constabulary, Neighbourhood Watch and the Neighbourhood Action Groups.
“Thank you for your support this year, it has been very much appreciated and I look forward to continuing to work with you over the coming year”.

Incident at McDonalds Benson

Thames Valley Police is appealing for information after a robbery at a McDonald’s restaurant in Benson in the early hours of Tuesday morning (1/4).

Officers were called to the restaurant in Oxford Road, B4009, shortly before 12.30am after reports that a man had entered and brandished a bat at staff and demanded money from the safe.

The man has then made all members of staff enter a back office, where money was then handed over before he fled the scene.

The man is described as 6ft, and was wearing dark coloured clothing and had his face covered.

PC Jon Morley said: “I am keen to speak to anyone who may have been travelling through this area and seen something, or anyone that has any information about this incident.”

If you have any details which could help investigating officers, please call the 24-hour Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org .