CRIME has fallen in the last 12 months in Launceston, town councillors and residents heard last week, writes Amy Dennis.
The positive news came from the neighbourhood beat manager for Launceston town and rural, PC Steve Stoppard, at a meeting of the town council last Tuesday.
He told councillors and members of the public present that crime had fallen 6.3% in the last 12 months, compared with the 12 months prior to that — 1,792 crimes compared with 1,913 crimes.
PC Stoppard said: “That’s with the closure of the custody suite, reduction of staff, and our area now, including part of Callington.”
Launceston’s custody centre closed last October.
PC Stoppard said there had been an increase in sexual offences, but said he felt they were being ‘more robust’ with victims, adding: “They know they will get the help they need. I believe the victim care we are giving people is helping them come forward.”
He said all other types of offences had decreased but there had been a ‘spike’ in vehicle crime in February, when ‘quite a substantial amount of cars’ in Dunheved Road were broken into.
“In a way it was sickening for me — like going back to the late ’80s, early ’90s.
“The good thing for me was within half an hour of it happening we apprehended the two that did it, and that was down to the public.
“We recovered all the property and actually got two offenders for it. For me that was the town, police and everybody pulling together — that’s not something that happens everywhere.
“It’s a privilege to be the Beat Manager for Launceston and I still believe that.”
A member of the public, Nick Toulson, asked PC Stoppard what effect more homes being built and people moving to the area would have on policing and crime figures.
Mr Toulson said: “I have seen less and less police on the streets in?Launceston”
PC Stoppard said: “Crime figures are dependent on people. It’s something we just can’t plan for. I don’t see how the council, police or public can answer that because we don’t know.
“Your numbers of officers have stayed the same.”