Crime in the Borough Rises and Detection Rates Fall

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Big surge in residential burglaries in Hounslow over the last year

The Metropolitan Police have released crime figures for the year to March 2018 showing a significant increase both across London and in the local borough.

Crime in the London Borough of Hounslow has increased by 7.5% compared to 6.4% in the whole of London. Violent crime increased more rapidly, up by 9% compared to a London-wide rise of 5.3%

Detection rates in the borough also fell, down by 9% although that still leaves the local force with a better detection rate of 15.8% compared to the Met average of 13.3%

The biggest rise in any crime category was for residential burglaries, which had previously seen a sharp fall. During the latest year there were 2,322 burglaries in the area a rise of 37.9%. Hounslow was not the only area to see a sharp rise. The London-wide increase was 33.8%

The borough has seen a less sharp increase in robbery which rose mainly due to a dramatic increase in the amount of scooter enabled crime. Robberies in Hounslow were up by 11.4% compared to an increase of 35.8% in the capital as a whole.

The Met say they have been putting a huge amount of effort into stemming the rise in these offences. In October, new tactics such as DNA spray, light-weight police motorcycles, and remote control tyre deflation devices were introduced. As a result, reductions in scooter-related crime are being experienced. In April 2017, there were 1,512 scooter, moped and motorcycle thefts. In less than a year this number was reduced - March 2018 saw 756 thefts - a 50% reduction. In July 2017, the number of crimes committed using scooter, moped and motorcycle peaked at 2,592. In less than a year this number was reduced - the month of March 2018 saw 1,238 - a 52% reduction.

Thefts from motor vehicles also continue to rise, up by 23.5% in the last year. The detection rate for this type of crime is the lowest of any with fewer than 1% being solved.

Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt, responsible for Territorial Policing, said, "The Met continues to experience a very busy and challenging time against the backdrop of significant reductions in resources. I am very concerned about the rise in crime in the capital, particularly murder, violent crime and knife crime.

"My thoughts are with the victims' families of these tragic and horrific crimes which have brought untold misery to countless people.

"We are strengthening local policing by bringing specialist officers closer to communities, and have increased the number of neighbourhoods officers dedicated to particular areas to engage with the public and work with them to keep them safe.

"There are now two Dedicated Ward Officers and a dedicated PCSO in each London ward and the addition of personal mobile technology will increase their capacity for community engagement. Additionally, there are 442 officers that can be allocated to priority wards as additional Dedicated Ward Officers, but still dedicated to neighbourhood policing. We also have officers working with schools on youth engagement and identifying young people most in need of support, intervention and diversion.”

He added that the Met doubling their targeted anti-knife crime activity with hundreds more officers on visible patrols in affected communities.

April 26, 2018