Annual crime figures released today for the New Forest show an overall drop of 11.03 per cent.
In the year to March 31, 2012, 9057 crimes were recorded in the area, compared to 8058 in the year to March 31, 2013.
The biggest fall was in violence against the person with injury, down 17.81 per cent from 803 to 660. This included a reduction of 18.35 per cent in assault with less serious injury and a drop of 6.90 per cent in serious violent crime.
Overall serious acquisitive crime fell by 14.91 per cent from 1301 to 1107. Included in this category are theft of motor vehicles, down by 13.82 per cent from 123 to 106; theft from motor vehicles, down by 17.17 per cent from 856 to 709; robbery, down 3.85 per cent from 27 to 26, and house burglary, down 10.47 per cent from 296 to 265.
Only one category of acquisitive crime, non-dwelling burglary, showed an increase. There was a rise of 26.92 percent, up to 877 cases from 691 the previous year.
Anti-social behaviour saw a drop of 9.41 per cent, down from 5282 to 4785.
Western Area Chief Superintendent David Thomas said:
“The latest crime figures for the New Forest are very encouraging and reflect some outstanding work by all members of our Community Safety Partnership. There has been a drop in the number of victims in the area, and we will be working hard to build on this success and to improve our efforts to combat non-dwelling burglary.”
