People in Kent feel safer in the county

People in Kent are less worried about crime, particularly violent crime, compared to the same time last year.

The improved perception of crime in the county is revealed in the latest Home Office Police Performance indicators published at lunchtime today (Wednesday 22 September 2004).

Kent fares well across all of the areas that it was measured against along with other forces in England and Wales.

• 10.3% improvement in the investigation of crime including an increase in the number of offenders brought to justice with other agencies.
• 6.4% improvement in crime reduction, specifically house burglaries, vehicle crime and robberies.
• 67% of police officers’ time spent on frontline duties, higher than the 63% average of seven similar forces.

Kent Police Authority Chairman John Palmer said: “These latest performance indicators show that Kent’s good performance is continuing. We welcome figures showing that the public’s perception is changing. More people now believe that the county is a safe place to live, which as we know, it is.”

Assistant Chief Constable David Ainsworth said: “Kent Police is determined to ensure that offenders are caught and dealt with appropriately. Along with our partner agencies in the criminal justice system we are constantly looking to improve the ways we investigate crime so that just outcomes are secured within the courts. These figures show good progress in this area.”