BOROUGH OF BERWICK-UPON-TWEED
CRIME AND DISORDER REDUCTION PARTNERSHIP
CRIME AUDIT : EMERGING PRIORITIES
1. Introduction
1.1 The contents of this documents represents the main themes that have emerged from an initial analysis of crime data for the Partnership area.
1.2 These 'Emerging Priorities' will provide the framework - operational and strategic - for the Partnerships' next Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy, to be in force for a 3-year period from 1 April 2002 - 31 March 2005.
2. National Crime Reduction Priorities
2.1 These include the following crime categories :
i) Domestic Burglary vi) Violent Crime ii) Vehicle Crime vii) Racist Crime and Harassment iii) Robbery viii) Drug-Related Crime iv) Anti-Social Behaviour ix) Fear of Crime v) Domestic Violence x) Rural Crime
3. Recorded Crime in the Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed
3.1 Overview
3.1.1 The Partnership agreed to collect crime and disorder data for the three year period from 1 April 1998 - 31 March 2001.
3.1.2 Recording crime over a longer period enables discernible patterns to emerge, which assists the data analysis processes.
3.1.3 During the recording period, 3387 crimes were committed in the Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed which works out at an average of just over 3 crimes committed each day.
3.1.4 The Borough has a resident population of 26,733. During traditional holiday periods, there are clear variations in crime rates. These changes are associated with a seasonal influx of visitors, which quadruples the number of people in the Borough to approximately 100,000 at peak periods.
3.2 Seasonal variations in crime rates.
3.2.1 Easter Vacation 2000 (15-30 April)
1.4.00 - 31.3.01 : Northumberland average crime rate per week - 311 Easter 2000 : All Northumberland crimes (609) = 309 per week
1.4.00 - 31.3.01 : Berwick Borough average crime rate per week - 19 Easter 2000 : Berwick Borough average crime rate - (45) 22.5 per week
The average weekly crime rate in the Borough increases by 18.2% during the Easter vacation period.
3.2.2 Summer Vacation 2000 (24 July - 5 September)
1.4.00 - 31.3.01 : Northumberland average crime rate per week - 311 Summer 2000 : All Northumberland crimes (1859) = 310 per week
1.4.00 - 31.3.01 : Berwick Borough average crime rate per week - 19 Summer 2000 : Berwick Borough crime rate - (165) = 27.5 per week
The average weekly crime rate in the Borough increases by 44.73% during the summer vacation period.
3.3 All Crimes in the Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed 1998-2001
3.3.1 Domestic Burglary - 112 offences (3.3%) Vehicle Crime - 359 offences (10.59%) Theft - 930 offences (27.45%) Fraud and Forgery - 115 offences (4.57%) Violent Crime - 340 offences (10.03%) Criminal Damage - 835 offences (24.65%) Drug-Related Crime - 80 offences (2.36%) Other offences - 576 offences (17.00%)
4. Comparisons of Crime
4.1 The Home Office Policing and Reducing Crime Unit has developed family groupings of Police Basic Command Units and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships to assist with performance comparisons on a like-for-like basis.
4.2 The Berwick Partnership has been included in Family Group 12, which comprises 37 partnerships sharing similar socio-economic characteristics for the purpose of realistic comparison of crime rates.
4.3 Comparison of performance within Family Group 12 demonstrates that the Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed is ranked within the lowest 10% for all crime committed (within the Partnership area) in the Family Group, which reflects consistently low crime rates throughout the Borough.
However : when compared to neighbouring districts (Alnwick and Tynedale District Councils) which are also members of Family Group 12, the Borough has a slightly higher overall rate of crime per 1000 population, as the table below demonstrates :-
Overall crime rates in the Borough are 9.46% higher than those in Alnwick District and 13.25% higher than those in Tynedale.
The Partnership will investigate whether these differentials correlate with index of deprivation data.
4.4 All crimes 1 April 1998 - 31 March 2001 on a Borough Ward basis
4.5 Some 2600 (76.7%) of all crimes committed during the recording period took place within the 5 town centre Wards in Berwick-upon-Tweed, despite those Wards only accounting for 46% of the Borough's population.
Less than a quarter of all recorded crime occurred in the Borough's rural Wards.
5. Analysis of crime data and identification of Emerging Priorities
5.1 Burglary
5.1.1 There were 112 reported burglary offences during the period, 82 (76%) of which took place in the five town centre Wards in Berwick-upon-Tweed.
5.1.2 The Borough average figure of 0.97/1000 (0.97 burglaries per 1000 population) is significantly lower than the County average of 2.58/1000.
5.1.3 PRIORITY? No - the statistical evidence does not support the inclusion of burglary as a priority. Less than one burglary was committed in the Borough every 10 days. However, because of the high concentration of burglaries in Berwick town centre, the Partnership will examine ways of addressing that problem as part of a wider range of measures/strategy aimed at reducing crime and disorder in town centre wards.
5.2 Vehicle Crime
5.2.1 There were 359 reported vehicle offences crime during the recording period, comprising 122 (34%) incidents of theft of vehicles and 259 incidents of theft from vehicles. 74% of all vehicle-related crime occurred within the 5 town centre Wards in Berwick-upon-Tweed.
5.2.2 The Partnership is concerned at an increase in the number of abandoned vehicles appearing in the Borough.
The Partnership may include this specific problem under the Anti-Social Behaviour heading.
5.2.3 PRIORITY? No - although the Partnership will examine measures to reduce vehicle crime and are likely to include these as objectives in the Strategy paper.
5.3 Robbery
5.3.1 Family Group 12 figures show that between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2001 only 1 robbery offences was recorded in the Borough.
5.3.2 PRIORITY? No - there is no statistical evidence to support the inclusion of Robbery as a priority. However, the Partnership will examine whether Robbery features significantly under Fear of Crime and plan a strategy to deal with it should that be the case.
5.4 Anti-Social Behaviour
5.4.1 Criminal Damage
There were 835 Criminal Damage offences committed in the Borough during the recording period, 81% of which occurred within the 5 town centre Wards in Berwick-upon-Tweed.
5.4.2 The incidence of Criminal Damage in the Borough at 7.9/1000 is lower than the County average of 10.87/1000 and national average of 18.22/1000.
5.4.3 A point of concern, however, is that 3 town centre Wards - Elizabeth (25.8/1000), Seton (25.5/1000) and Spittal (20.3/1000) demonstrate rates of Criminal Damage excess of the national average.
5.4.4 General Disorder
· Domestic disputes - 505 incidents (higher than Alnwick or Tynedale) · Drunkenness - 547 incidents (higher than Alnwick or Tynedale) · Public disorder - 268 incidents (higher than Alnwick or Tynedale) · Miscellaneous complaints - 2926 incidents (higher than Alnwick but lower than Tynedale) [Note : incidents, not offences]
5.4.5 Analysis of disorder data in its current format is complicated by the ambiguity of the headings under which these criminal offences are recorded.
5.4.6 Youth Disorder
5.4.7 Figures for Youth Disorder in the Borough for the recording period show a total of 1095 offences and a Borough average of 10.1/1000, compared to a County average of 12.6/1000. 82% of all Youth Disorder offences occurred in the 5 town centre Wards in Berwick-upon-Tweed, with Spittal (34.1/1000), Elizabeth (27.7/1000), Seton (24.3/1000) and Tower (19.3/1000) significantly higher than - and in some cases mare than double - the County average.
Youth disorder will be dealt with more comprehensively in the Youth Project Plan for Northumberland.
5.4.8 Racist Crime and Harassment
5.4.9 The Partnership has been unable to obtain data providing information on the numbers and composition of ethnic minority groups living in the Borough.
5.4.10 The Partnership has included Racist Crime and Harassment under the broader Anti-social Behaviour heading because it was felt that the characteristics of those offences committed in the Borough were inclined to be of an anti-social nature.
5.4.11 Four offences of Anti-social Behaviour involving ethnic minorities took place in the Borough during the recording period.
5.4.12 The Partnership intends to examine the extent of crime and disorder defined by a number of other sub-categories which can be included under the Anti-Social Behaviour heading, these include :
· Neighbourhood nuisance · Malicious fires · Graffiti · Dog fouling, fly tipping and litter · Street lighting and amenity provision
5.4.13 PRIORITY ? Yes - it is clear that various forms of Anti-Social Behaviour are a significant problem in town centre Wards in Berwick-upon-Tweed. These include the sub-categories of Criminal Damage, Youth Disorder and General Disorder. The second stage of the Audit will focus closely on disorder issues. With regard to race crime, statistical evidence demonstrates that this is not a significant problem; however, the Partnership will take steps to ensure that all appropriate recommendations from the McPherson report are complied with.
5.6 Violent Crime
5.6.1 There were 340 Violent Crime offences in the Borough during the recording period. Although the Borough average of 2.95/1000 was lower than the County (4.04/1000) and national (11.4/1000) averages, a disproportionate number of offences (76%) again occurred in Berwick town centre.
5.6.2 Wooler (4.4/1000) and North Sunderland (3.9/1000), two of the largest settlements in the Borough outwith Berwick-upon-Tweed, have also experienced relatively high rates of violent crime.
5.6.3 PRIORITY? Yes - The Partnership is concerned at the high rate (15.9/1000) of violent crime in Elizabeth Ward in Berwick town centre, and the concentration of higher-than average rates in other town centre Wards.
5.7 Domestic Violence
5.7.1 There were 20 Domestic Violence offences in the Borough during the recording period. The rate (1.25/1000) is lower than the County average of 2.33/1000 but there are concerns that the rate is increasing, although it is thought that the increase is partly attributable to more sophisticated reporting techniques, publicity campaigns and the work of the Northumberland Domestic Violence Forum.
5.7.2 The Partnership is of the view that Domestic Violence be included as a sub-category under the broader Violent Crime heading, and should be regarded as a priority.
5.8 Drug-Related Crime
5.8.1 80 drugs offences occurred in the Borough during the recording period. Of these, 74 (92.5%) took place in the 5 town centre Wards in Berwick-upon-Tweed. This suggests a concentration of dealers and users in Berwick itself.
5.8.2 The Borough rate of 0.65/1000 is lower than both the County (1.42/1000) and national averages (2.15/1000).
5.8.3 Interpreting drugs-related crime data presents certain problems because drug use often correlated with other crime categories such as acquisitive crime (theft) which may be coded as theft, but may have been committed with the intent to sell stolen items to raise money to purchase drugs. Whilst there would be a clear connection with drug-related crime, the offence would not be recorded as being drug-related.
5.8.4 PRIORITY? Yes - The Drugs Reference Group in Berwick has expressed concern at substance misuse in certain areas of the Borough. Further targeted data is awaited. Police evidence suggests that acquisitive crime - eg shoplifting - is rising. The Partnership will examine links between acquisitive crime and drug use. We are also aware that alcohol-related crime is a cross-cutting issue and will examine its effects in the next stage of the Audit.
5.9 Fear of Crime
5.9.1 MORI interviewed a total of 1141 Northumberland County Council panel members between 17 February - 25 March 2001 as part of the County-wide crime survey. The survey found that contrary to recorded crime statistics, only 9% of Borough residents believed that crime levels had fallen during the previous 2 years.
21% of Borough respondents felt threatened by crime or criminal activity, 2% lower than the County average.
5.9.2 The survey also indicated that Fear of Crime is closely linked with personal experience, and that in the Borough 35% of households had experienced some form of crime victimisation at some point during the previous five years (19% in the previous 12 months).
5.9.3 PRIORITY? Yes - The Partnership is concerned that Fear of Crime remains disproportionate to the incidence of crime and will examine ways of reassuring the community without encouraging complacency.
5.10 Rural Crime
5.10.1 The Partnership takes the view that Rural Crime is another cross-cutting theme. There are no obvious concentrations of particular types of crime in the rural part of the Borough.
5.10.2 PRIORITY? Yes - The Partnership will examine the correlation between reductions in rural services (eg closure of post offices, shops, public houses, bus services, other facilities, foot and mouth disease) and crime patterns in rural areas. Consideration will also be given to the establishment of a Crime Free Countryside - type information service for rural areas which have been neglected in the past because of the concentration of crime incidence in urban parts of the Borough.
6.0 Health Warnings
6.1 The University of Northumbria, who have sourced much of the data referred to in this report, have advised that because some crime data imported from Policy Sources was not geographically referenced, actual crime figures may have been underestimated by up to 15%. This should not affect CDRP priorities however as the primary function of the data is to identify specific problem areas.
Signatures approving Emerging Priorities
a) Superintendent Jean Austin Area Commander, Northumbria Police, North Northumberland Area Command
b) Jane Pannell Chairman, Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership
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