Editorial Comment
A special investigation by YourThurrock has revealed the shockingly low detection rates for crime in Thurrock.
The aim of this story is not to lambast the officers in Thurrock but to make a plea to the bosses in Chelmsford and the political bosses in Thurrock and Westminster to act now or see an unparalleled rise in violent and acquistive crime in the borough over the next few years as the recession bites deeper and deeper.
It is also a call to see more direct policing prioritised and peripheral crime prevention projects “marginalised” until detection rates reach what many would consider an acceptable level.
Day in, day out, YourThurrock reporters see drug dealers operating with impunity. People can set their watches by it. The car park near to Kwik-Fit, the alcove opposite Grays magistrates to name but a few. Drug dealing was clearly visible throughout T-Fest.
In 2007, 90% of drug offences were detected. Now the detection rates have slumped to 59%.
What may have happened is that the number of dealers have flooded into the borough since 2007 but the powers that be have reduced the number of officers available to detect. If you think Frank Serpico is wandering around Grays High Street then think again!
What is also of great concern is that only 13% of all sex offences were detected in the borough last year. The number of reported crimes dropped from 368 to 197 but the detection rate went from 14% to 13%. The bigger question is why there have been a 171 drop in reported crime.
Perhaps there were 368 sex offences but it would be very distressing if there were 171 Thurrock women (or men) who after an attack have signalled their complete lack of faith in the criminal justice system and not reported a rape or other sex crime.
Again, violence against the person has shown a 17% drop in detection rates in the borough over two years. In 2008-09 there were 2803 attacks. 48% were detected against 2432 attacks in 2006-07 with a 65% detection rate.
For many years, detection rates for burglaries and robberies stood at anything between 25 and 40%. Today, in Thurrock, the number of robberies stands at 15%. 2007-08 was a particularly shocking year with only 8% of all robberies detected.
You do start to look at these figures and ask yourself, what is it going to take before someone does something? Before someone gives the police the backing and the resources they need. A 0% detection rate? The figures reveal that community engagement days or walk in surgeries or mobile offices are simply smoke screens. Smokescreens the public and the cops don’t really want. The figures also reveal that it isn’t working.
Handing out pamphlets doesn’t work; plasma tv screens with public information films with the sound turned down does not work; fifteen officers at a drugs awareness day in Blackshots whilst drug dealers wander the fields nearby with impunity, doesnt work; PCSO’s spending four hours at school certificate evenings while robberies and assaults are taking place nearby doesn’t work.
Disagree?: the stats are the facts. Ask any taxpayer and they would rather see a 1% improvement in crime detection rates than all the intiatives outlined above.
The public have their role to play. Any cop will tell you: the people who are out in Aveley or Blackshots Lane berating dustmen over three bins are the same people, who when there is a rape or murder or assault or a drug deal on their street, turn around and say: “Oh I just keep myself to myself.”.
It is the time for the politician and the public alike to come to the party. So, to all the councillors who are making council employees redundant. To all the councillors who espouse the big society, mobilise your voters, get on board and do something. Or are you too busy mobilising the public over……….bins.
The police don’t get off scot free. A detective told YourThurrock that the police simply don’t recruit crime fighters any more. If your football team doesn’t sign strikers don’t be surprised if you don’t score any goals.
They may also want to reflect on whether they need to re-shape their pr model. Putting out press releases boasting that recorded crime is down may fool some newsdesks but the public feel you are just insulting their intelligence. The stats, once again bear them out.
With the council planning to cut a large number of PCSO’s and the government planning to cut £43 million from Essex Police’s budget, things look very grim indeed.
As we have said: something needs to be done right here and right now.
Portfolio holder, cllr Gerard Rice did not respond to a request for an interview. Essex Police did not respond to a request for a statement at the time of going to press.
Offences Recorded in Thurrock District
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Violence Against The Person 2432 1579 65% 3000 1269 42% 2803 1343 48%
Sexual Offences 126 43 34% 368 50 14% 197 26 13%
Robbery 201 42 21% 588 46 8% 311 46 15%
Fraud & Forgery 1336 224 17% 882 210 24% 966 171 18%
Drug Offences 228 206 90% 308 235 76% 544 321 59%
Criminal Damage 3346 465 14% 2541 472 19% 2958 399 13%
Burglary 1815 208 11% 1973 192 10% 1408 251 18%
This report does not suprise me one iota, unfortunatley police are too busy form filling and clearing petty crime in an attempt to meet the government targets rather than working on the harder cases which take longer to process and detect.
The public are no longer interested in what goes on around them as long as they look after number one, the whole community spirit has been and gone with neighbours no longer looking out for each other, this is just part of the problems with our society.
Maybe the use of PCSO’s in the office dealing with the paperwork would be a better use of their talents, after all they have very little or no powers on the street, they are after all really just glorified traffic wardens.
Get the police back on the streets where they can do the job that they are trained for, also start getting the mindless magistrates that do not live in the real world to start giving convicted criminals proper sentences rather than ASBO’s, Community Service and slaps on the wrist, only then will the message get through to those who commit the crimes.
I wonder why the portfolio holder, Gerard Rice, is keeping quiet, maybe he is embarrased by these figures as are Essex Police, surely as the people responsible for these figures should come to the front and explain why thigs are so bleak in the borough.
Whilst being critical of the facts laid in front of me by this report I have the utmost admiration for the bobby on the beat and we need more of these outside of the police station rather inside form filling.
Bobby on the beat, respect for the judicial system, harsher sentences, harsher rule of law! Proper Parenting! Wheres it all gone? The problem being, in this 21st Centry, No bugger wants to police the law, Thurrock Council are manned by a bunch of ok ya poofs taking ages to sort out in house let alone Thurrocks peoples problems!
Coppers are riding about in their jam sandwich scalextric cars and as soon as lakeside start whingeing, they are all hanging around for a spot on TV!
I can remember when coppers had to be a certain hieght to join the force! Now we have ended up with a load of 5ft Hobbits who have to gather together in bulk enabling them to make an arrest. What sort of message does that give the perpetraitors who are breaking the law?
I’m a firm believer of having the Bobby on the beat, getting to know the community and being friendly towards the residents! That way you are policing your shop floor, your work place, not inside a police station, that is merely a base to clock in and clock out from!
When I watch those Police on TV programmes, I think to myself how on earth did some of those get their jobs, especially some of those Gobby wpc’s!
It’s no wonder Crime rate is crap!
As with Thurrock Council, Essex Police management should be brought to book over these figures and Sack the Management who are responsible and recruit hard line Magistrate’s to dish out proper sentences to the real criminals!
Leave the Hobbit’s for Circus Work! Recruit the big buggers for proper results!!!
This is no real surprise – and I don’t blame Police – the admin. messes they have been tangled up on are : unbelievable. Systems are now too top-heavy on Administration features and top-brass situations that too much is not properly SUPERVISED at ground level – particularly on the matter of : actual DELIVERY AND PERFORMANCE OF SERVICE. The whole of Britain is a sick-joke on those terms now. To support this top-heavy waste-of-real-time-and-resources – they recruit too many people to DELIVER service who aren’t always properly tested and trained – outsourcing to agencies etc. for locums etc. As to Mr. Rice – no suprise he isn’t shouting …. his own 25,000 £1 loopholes of the past are still a shocking topic on all the streets of Thurrock. That disgusting farce makes him a very odd choice for the role he has. Still, that’s Labour Thurrock for you….. sigh …. The terrifying fact is that too many people now run their own law – they smirk at Police – Thurrock is a minefield like that – just waiting to go BANG ! Vocational Professional Police have my every sympathy and support – they must feel like the little Dutch Boy who had to keep his finger in the Dyke to stop the Flood at times…. I wouldn’t be able to tolerate the average mouth-lout UK spouting abuse to me in the way they have to swallow – so, hats off to them – from me.
Thurrock Council are making a big song and dance about their ‘Let’s Talk’ campaign.
Perhaps they should rename it ‘Let’s Talk’ (unless your’e a journalist asking awkward questions).
THURROCK COUNCIL ARE NO LONGER VALUE FOR MONEY!
THURROCK POLICE ARE NO LONGER VALUE FOR MONEY!
THURROCK COUNCIL LET’S TALK IS OK AS LONG AS THEY ARE GETTING WHAT THEY WANT AND SAY SOD WHAT YOU WANT! WE TALK THEY DON’T LISTEN!
SAME AS THE POLICE!