Sex attacks, violence, drug abuse, and burglaries have all increased dramatically in the last three months, police figures reveal.

Thames Valley Police says two rapes are reported every week somewhere in West Berkshire, while child sex abuse cases have risen 233% in the three months to the end of July.

The startling figures come on top of rapidly rising crime rates overall, which has seen burglaries from cars, homes, shops, and sheds rise to more than 300 a month.

Shoplifting is up 11%, with shopkeepers ringing in three thefts a day on average across the district.

Overall crime is up 14% on the three months on the same period a year ago, while the proportion of crime solved has fallen to 18% from 23%.

West Berkshire now has a higher crime rate than the Thames Valley average, but with a worse detection rate.

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/performance-pdfs-west-berkshire.pdf

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/performance-pdfs-thames-valley-2.pdf

Living on Turnpike for nearly 30 years it is the worst I’ve seen it in all that time for crime. People are scared to go out at night. Some blame the recession, however, I feel it is more to d with the attitude by courts and police. Kids if caught are only given warning and sent on their way.

Watching a programme on crime with Nick Ross last week one of the police officers said “We can only contain it”; what!? Surely that isn’t the answer but to deal tough with those that wish to over step the boundary.

I'd be interested in how the figures compare with Reading.  I understand that they 'suck' a lot of resources from other areas.  I wonder if this is now starting to show.

Great news isn't it?

And New Labour's mantra is that crime is "falling."

More lies from this junta of a government.

Quoted from 37

Great news isn't it?

And New Labour's mantra is that crime is "falling."

More lies from this junta of a government.

Crime isn't falling, it's just that people aren't reporting it as much as they used to.

Quoted from GMR

Crime isn't falling, it's just that people aren't reporting it as much as they used to.

Or even if they do, it isn't necessarily recorded properly.

Quoted from Greenham Common

Or even if they do, it isn't necessarily recorded properly.

True - there has been many cases of that.

Quoted from GMR

Crime isn't falling, it's just that people aren't reporting it as much as they used to.

Have you got evidence to prove this or are you just typing out stuff you read in the Daily Mail again?

Quoted from user23.3

Have you got evidence to prove this or are you just typing out stuff you read in the Daily Mail again?

The police figures seem to support it - but I suppose as it is anti establishment talk you wont believe it!!!

Quoted from Nobby

The police figures seem to support it - but I suppose as it is anti establishment talk you wont believe it!!!

The police figures seem to suggest more local crime is being reported. 14% more.

Quoted from user23.3

The police figures seem to suggest more local crime is being reported. 14% more.

But the % of Crime Reported against Crime Committed is not quantified and therefore the governments figures maybe misleading the crime figures are undoubtedly higher than stated. What maybe counted as minor acts of vandalism (not if you are the victim) such as smashed wing mirrors will go unreported as the police won't be arsed to do anything about and victims won't waste their time. In the past people would have reported such incidents!  

Quoted from user23.3

Have you got evidence to prove this or are you just typing out stuff you read in the Daily Mail again?

I don't read the Daily Mail... I'll leave that to you User.

Recently there was a Programme on crime - maybe you saw it? - and it stated that people are not reporting certain crimes as much. Also I am a member of a local NAG group and there survey has shown that certain local crime isn't being reported also.

Quoted from user23.3

The police figures seem to suggest more local crime is being reported. 14% more.

But there is also a lot of crime that isn't reported so it is probably higher.

Quoted from GMR

I don't read the Daily Mail... I'll leave that to you User.

I don't think you understood what I meant by it or you wouldn't have posted a reply like that.

Quoted from GMR

But there is also a lot of crime that isn't reported so it is probably higher.

I don't believe you unless have figures to prove it, however more crime is being reported or the statistics wouldn't have gone up.

Quoted from GMR

I don't read the Daily Mail... I'll leave that to you User.

Recently there was a Programme on crime - maybe you saw it? - and it stated that people are not reporting certain crimes as much. Also I am a member of a local NAG group and there survey has shown that certain local crime isn't being reported also.

Wholly agree, unless we've become very tolerant.  Who these days would bother to call the Police if they saw kids knocking heads off flowers in a local park?  Did when I was a lad and that was before universal mobile phones.  Frankly the crime numbers are almost meaningless, very few know what the categories are or mean - and the definition seems to change year on year, depending on what the Home office want to proove.  Perhaps we ought to have a wholly independent and trusted 'data keeper' and perhaps a mechanisim for reporting crime after the event, even in cases where we aren't expecting immediate action. Suspect the picture would then be very different.    

Quoted Text

I don't think you understand what I meant by it or you wouldn't have posted a reply like that.

The trouble with you user you’ve got no sense of humour.

Quoted Text

I don't believe you unless have figures to prove it,

Because you don’t believe me doesn’t mean I am wrong. What I’ve quoted is from the sources I’ve said; they don’t always issue written proof... but that doesn’t mean I am wrong.

Quoted Text

however more crime is being reported or the statistics wouldn't have gone up.

True... but that doesn’t mean EVERY crime has been reported. As I’ve said; from experience, observing, reading and watching not every crime is/ was reported.

Quoted from GMR

The trouble with you user you’ve got no sense of humour.

It wasn't funny. If you'd said I read the Guardian that might have raised a smile, but I don't reckon you'd know why.

Quoted from GMR

Because you don’t believe me doesn’t mean I am wrong. What I’ve quoted is from the sources I’ve said; they don’t always issue written proof... but that doesn’t mean I am wrong

All I'm saying is show me some proof that less crime is being reported.

Quoted from user23.3

It wasn't funny. If you'd said I read the Guardian that might have raised a smile, but I don't reckon you'd know why.All I'm saying is show me some proof that less crime is being reported.

I'd like someone to define 'crime' and keep the definition constant, year after year.  

I think there are plenty of people who wouldn't bother reporting crimes and if they do it's just to get a crime number so they can claim on insurance. I know of someone who had their bike stolen from their garden shed recently. The shed was locked so the hinges were removed from the door. It was reported. Then several days later the 'someone' passed a couple of blokes sat down Northcroft Lane way and they had the bike. I asked if he told the police and the the answer was no, there didn't seem to be any point.

Quoted from user23.3

All I'm saying is show me some proof that less crime is being reported.

You should know that, that isn't always possible; because of that, that doesn't mean I am wrong.

Read FF's post; no doubt you'll say that doesn't prove anything.

At the risk of opening up a bigger can of worms, some should read this....

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4545573.Cutting_crime_a_piece_of_cake/

18 per cent cut in crime rate in 5 months..

Highest detection rate in the Thames Valley....

Burglary down 31 per cent...

Theft from motor vehicles down by 17 per cent...

Theft of a vehicle down by 41 per cent....

Criminal damage rates down by 22 per cent....

Assaults down by 26 per cent.


It can be done..



Threep.

Quoted from Threepwood

At the risk of opening up a bigger can of worms, some should read this....

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4545573.Cutting_crime_a_piece_of_cake/

18 per cent cut in crime rate in 5 months..

Highest detection rate in the Thames Valley....

Burglary down 31 per cent...

Theft from motor vehicles down by 17 per cent...

Theft of a vehicle down by 41 per cent....

Criminal damage rates down by 22 per cent....

Assaults down by 26 per cent.


It can be done..



Threep.

That is from a local Oxford paper which says crime went down. However, the last three weeks the BBC has been showing a documentary on crime; this is crime in Oxford and according to Nick Ross – the presenter – the BBC’s did a survey which showed that people in Oxford and around Oxford have said that most crimes don't get reported.

It's nowt to do with Oxford. It says quite clearly "Vale of the White Horse"...

You can hear your man here...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/oxford/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8163000/8163317.stm


Threep.

I understand the reporting of low level crime, like anti social behaviour, is less likely to be reported.  I'm not sure I trust any of the figures wholly,  one needs an independent source that uses consistent statistical gathering methods over a long period of time to have any faith in them.  What was true about Oxford, apparently, is violet crime is not as high on the list of problems as antisocial behaviour.

Looks like several crime categories are now higher in Newbury town centre than the Thames Valley average.

http://crimestats.thamesvalley.police.uk/

99 violent attacks in our town centre over three months. Sound like a safe town to you?  

Quoted from Threepwood

It's nowt to do with Oxford. It says quite clearly "Vale of the White Horse"...

You can hear your man here...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/oxford/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8163000/8163317.stm


Threep.

Ok, thanks.

Quoted from Muddler

99 violent attacks in our town centre over three months. Sound like a safe town to you?  

Never reported the last couple of incidents directed at me along Northbrook street. There is no point, it only opens you up to reprisals.

Been spending most of my time in central London since start of the summer. Its much safer, not had a single incident or even bad word said to me in the whole time. Even the people are generally more polite and well spoken.

Matches my daughter's experience exactly!  She started living in Central London some four years ago - only time her life style ever worried me.  Then I took a closer look at the crime stats.... Frankly, TV Police ought not to realise Reading isn't the problem.