11/08/10…Crime figures for Thame area

AFTER the recent revelation from the Chief Constable for Thames Valley Police that just one in seven burglaries, robberies and car crimes in the Thames Valley were solved last year, the figures for South Oxfordshire, including Thame, are rather better.

Chief Constable Sara Thornton said last week that the crime detection rate for TVP was 14%, despite a county-wide fall in crime, with an average of 20%.

Police Inspector Martin Ford, based at Thame, told ThameNews.Net today: “In relation to the overall performance in the South Oxfordshire Police Area within which Thame falls, I can advise you that on a year to date basis 1/4/10 to 8/8/10, the detection rates for crime are:

17.3% for SAC (Serious Acquisitive Crime), which includes key categories of burglary, robbery, theft of motor vehicle and theft from motor vehicle.

27.6% for Burglary of dwellings

44% Robbery

40% theft of vehicle

Thames Valley Police received a ‘poor’ rating for solving crimes in its annual assessment from inspectors this year and the Police Report Card by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary gave the force an overall rating of ‘fair’.

Thames Valley Police are facing budget cuts of up to 25%.

PHOTO: Chief Constable Sara Thornton with Thame Community Police Officer, Russell Hounslow, pictured during her recent visit to Thame police station.