A report issued by the Isle of Wight Community Safety Partnership has revealed that crime is down 0.9% overall across the Isle of Wight, but there has been a 23.8% spike in reported cases of rape, a 72.4% rise in acts of arson and a 60% increase in the number of robberies of personal property.
The Community Safety Partnership Strategic Assessment for 2018/19 helps partners to better understand the crime profile of the Isle of Wight and assists in prioritising resources where they are most needed. The partnership is made up of Hampshire Constabulary, Isle of Wight Council, Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, Isle of Wight NHS Trust, probation services and youth offending services, and is supported by other partners and action groups.
Overall, the crime rate for the Island has improved since 2017/18 and is now 72.4 per 1,000 population – this is statistically significantly lower than the England and Wales national average of 89.5 per 1,000. A total of 10,197 crimes were reported in 2018-19, a reduction of 0.9% on the previous period. In total, 12 crime types have reduced or remained the same during this period.
It is reported that there has been a reduction in anti-social behaviour by 221 instances and an 8% drop in the number of cases of criminal damage. Vehicle offences and residential burglary have seen the largest decreases, along with public order offences, youth-on-youth crime, hate crime and crimes against children.
However, a number of other crimes types have seen a spike. There has been a 72.4% increase in arson across the Island, a 60% increase in robbery of personal property, a 46.3% increase in theft from a person and a 21.1% increase in drug trafficking, although these spikes are in crime types with relatively small numbers.
The report also highlights that there has been a 23.8% increase in the number of rapes [167] reported to Police on the Isle of Wight, with a 4% rise in other sexual offences [236]. Domestic related offences are said to account for 17.5% of all sexual offence cases locally. 27.3% of rape cases relate to historic allegations. A surprisingly high number of sexual offences cases – 69.7% – failed to make it to the prosecution stage either through unwillingness to support or due to evidential difficulties.
On our roads… the number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) is said to be ‘significantly higher’ than comparable areas, with 243 people KSI between 2015 and 2017. The report does, however, recognise that the number of young people being seriously injured or killed on our roads has fallen, with praise given to the multi-agency ‘Head On’ road safety programme that is delivered in Island schools.
Responding to questions as to whether the disbanding of the Shanklin-based Roads Policing Unit in 2015 has played a part in this comparably high figure, Superintendent Sarah Jackson told Island Echo that the Island still has a roads policing team but that policing is not the only element to road safety. The force continues to work with other partners to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured through programmes such as the Older Drivers Forum, Fatal 4 and Head On.
Speaking about the report overall, Supt. Sarah Jackson, District Commander for the Isle of Wight, has said:
“I am pleased to see that overall crime is down on the Isle of Wight.
“One of the ways we have achieved this is by identifying trends, hotspots or peaks and Operation Varney is a prime example of this. This time last year Newport was a real hotspot in terms of anti-social behaviour but the partnership response to this was really strong. We saw the youth offending team, Police and other agencies, including the third sector, coming together to support youths and divert them away from committing anti social behaviour and other low-level crime.
“A number of key convictions in the past 12 months has also been a contributing factor”.
“Our aim is of course to reduce crime to reduce the number of vitims, but we also want to encourage people to report crime if they should fall victim to it”.
A Violent Crime Reduction Unit has recently been established to further understand violent crime trends and ways to reduce the national increase. This will allow intervention and extra resources to be utilised on the Island, with education being a key element of tackling such crime.
In addition, a ‘mutual gains’ programme has been set up in Ryde to tackle anti-social behaviour involving the under 20’s. This brings community organisations together to deliver a response with the support of an external company. The first meeting is said to have gone well and work is now taking place to recruit people to engage and deliver solutions. This is being funded with thanks to Home Office funding.
A number of Police officers across neighbourhood teams, response and patrol and investigation departments have been trained as domestic abuse champions, giving them a greater understanding of the issues people face and to ensure that the first contact is as positive as it can be.
Have you been a victim of crime? You can report this to Hampshire Constabulary by calling 101. It’s important to report crime, even if you think that the Police won’t be able to assist.
Sadly, as more enrichment occurs, se x crimes will rise, as they do in every other country who adopts the same policy, proving it is NOT coincidence.
The media try to limit the truth, for fear of draconian Government measures to end the freedom of the press, but most wise know what is going on, despite the so often biased reporting of such.
Sad to see it on the Island, as time will ensure it gets worse, not better.
It’s going down because people have realised for years now nothing gets done about when you do report it.
EXACTLY!!!
No point in reporting anything. Mostly you’ll be told it’s some other departments responsibility or it needs an officer to actually see it themselves – unless it’s campaigned for on Facebook.
Sadly it’s policing by social media these days.
And this isn’t a go at the police. Obviously these days with it always being someone else’s problem then there isn’t actually any group to pin the blame on.
Always another department.
However REAL crime like calling someone a nasty name and making them feel all hurt-wurty, well that will get multi agency blue light instant response every time.
My car was hit while parked up outside my home one night, The whole thing was caught on video and the guy even came back, that too was on video. But the police said unless I had his name or reg nothing they could do. They could not even be bothered to look at the whole video. So unless you solve the crime yourself forget it.