Violent crime on the increase in the borough

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Burglary also on the increase as overall crime levels fall

Reported crime in Wandsworth Borough has seen an overall reduction of 5.3% over the 12 months to March 2005. The reduction is slightly better than the average for the Metropolitan Police area which had an average fall of 4.3%

One worrying trend was an increase in violent crime which rose by over 10% over the year. Wandsworth Borough Police have not responded to a request for comment on this matter but other Borough Police forces say that the rise is due to changed recording methods and the ability to issue fixed penalty notices for this type of crime.

Despite the capital seeing an overall increase in residential burglary this type of crime increased in the Borough rising by 3.9%

The homicide rate doubled during the year but this represents and increase from 2 to 4, a relatively low rate still compared to many London boroughs.

There was a great deal of success in tackling robberie of commercial premises with this category of crime being halved and rapes in the borough fell by a third.

Crime Figures 12 Months to Mar 2005
-	Wandsworth Total	% Change over year	MPS Total	% Change over year
Total Crimes	31,641	-5.7%	1,015,121	-4.3%
Homicide	4	100.0%	195	-7.6%
Violence Against the Person (Total)	5,898	10.5%	201,926	8.5%
Rape	64	-33.3%	2,446	-4.9%
Other Sexual	269	8.5%	8,418	10.3%
Robbery (Total)	1,475	-6.3%	39,033	-4.0%
Robbery (Person)	1,407	-0.7%	36,807	-1.8%
Robbery (Business)	68	-56.7%	2,226	-29.6%
Burglary (Total)	3,616	-1.3%	101,474	-3.7%
Burglary Residential	2,675	3.9%	63,084	-7.2%
Burglary Non-Residential	941	-13.6%	38,390	2.7%
Gun Enabled Crime	90	-23.1%	3,653	-7.9%
Motor Vehicle Crime	4,126	-15.1%	136,190	-14.4%
Domestic Crime	1,910	9.8%	62,635	4.6%
Racist Crime	324	9.1%	12,816	-2.9%
Homophobic Crime	33	-19.5%	1,346	8.1%

April 22, 2005