Shoplifting on rise as criminals switch from burglaries

Ashford has the lowest level of anti-social behaviour in the county, domestic abuse victims are well supported and burglaries in the borough are declining, according to new figures.

But the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) report, discussed by Ashford Borough Council last Tuesday, also found other, more worrying, types of crime were on the up.

Figures for robbery, shoplifting, sexual offences, flytipping, and violent crime in the borough are still very high and some areas are even increasing.

The CSP is made up of representatives from Ashford Borough Council, Ashford Clinical Commissioning Group, Kent County Council, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Kent Police and Kent Probation.

The multi-agency operation aims to tackle crime by working together, focusing on specific areas and annually reviewing trends, patterns and progress.

In the latest update on the CSP’s activity locally the report listed anti-social behaviour and environmental crime, domestic abuse, substance misuse, acquisitive crime, violent crime and road safety as the 2015/16 priorities. police decreased by 643 incidents compared to the previous year.

This equates to a 35% decrease in incidents in 2014/15 compared to 2013/14.

The report adds: “While it is impressive to have the lowest ASB figures in Kent, there were still 1,207 reported incidents and each incident has an impact on our communities.

“Our partners will continue to work together to try and reduce this further.”

One method for reducing ASB has been Operation Claxon, a preventative initiative that calls on victims of ASB and targets known offenders.

The scheme works with Ashford Supporting Families programme to try to reduce the problems at source. Between January 2015 and December 2015, police recorded 799 notifiable domestic abuse offences in the borough – 457 medium risk and 196 high risk.

Of those, 71 victims were young people aged between 12 and 18 and 455 were repeat victims.

Ashford One Stop Shop is a once-a-week drop-in centre providing services to victims and the number of visitors using the facilities is increasing.

In September 2014, Ashford Borough Council committed to spend up to £50,000 per year for the next three years on domestic abuse work.

Work by the CSP to reduce domestic abuse includes developing an iBook for young people, provided housing and benefit advice at the One Stop Shop, police officers training and running the freedom programme.

Police believe criminals are moving away from burglary due to the differences in sentencing

The report states that burglaries in the borough are decreasing in both houses, businesses and other properties.

But figures show shoplifting, robberies and theft crimes are actually on the up.

Kent Police said this could be because criminals are moving away from burglary due to the differences in sentencing.

Low-value shoplifting carries a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000, while convictions for burglary can see up to 10 years in prison.

Shoplifting has seen a sharp increase of 69 offences in the last year, bringing the total to 819, with the most affected areas being the town centre, Ashford Designer Outlet and nearby Asda.

Work undertaken by the CSP to reduce such crimes, include awareness raising, community engagement, monitoring CCTV, bike marking campaigns and other services. While the latest figures for local flytipping have gone down from the previous year, the number is still very high.

In 2014 to 2015, there were 940 reported incidents – a decrease of 184 from the previous year.

But the report says that it is believed this is due to incidents not being reported.

Chilmington areas are still experiencing high levels of flytipping, in particular rural areas, such as Bethersden, Bilsington, Ruckinge, Charing and Orlestone are still suffering.

The report says there has been some work to encourage the community to report flytipping.

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) appointed a new environmental contracts and operations manager to raise awareness and give the issue particular focus this year. Worryingly, figures show sexual offences and violent crime has slightly increased year on year.

Figures compiled by Kent Police, the NHS and Kent County Council show sexual offences have increased by 31 crimes, bringing the 2014/15 total to 185, and volent crime has increased by 35, bringing the 2014/15 total to 1893.

To reduce violent crime, the Community Safety Partnership has carried out a pub and club focused initiative, Operation Amazon, on Friday and Saturday nights, drug swabbing and high-visibility deterrents.