'Report all petty crimes' (From Gazette Series)

'Report all petty crimes'

GLOUCESTERSHIRE'S top policeman has told people in Dursley they must report all crimes if they want to expect a fully effective police force.

Speaking at Monday's Dursley inspector neighbourhood area police community consultative, Dr Timothy Brain said failing to report petty crimes allowed those responsible to do it again and again.

The chief constable was only at the meeting as guest speaker at short notice after the original speaker pulled out.

But, after giving an overview of what shape the force was in, he strongly defended the work of the Dursley area staff.

During public questions the police were criticised by residents and town centre shopkeepers for being unable to curb disorder fully on Friday and Saturday nights.

One resident stated: "It has got better but it is still not what I would consider good."

Residents felt not enough was done to catch those responsible for criminal damage at these times.

However, Dr Brain and Insp Paul Donovan pointed out disorder was down by ten percent, while detection rates were significantly up.

This did not satisfy people though, with many claiming it was pointless to report crimes such as damage to vehicles and broken windows. In response, each member of the panel stressed the absolute importance of reporting everything.

PC Tracey Bryan said: "You must report all incidents of crime to us, otherwise we can not build up a picture of where the crime hotspots are."

Although the nature of crimes like breaking wing mirrors meant it is rare for someone to be caught, the report itself allows the police to identify where such incidents are commonplace and adjust patrols accordingly. It is also possible for evidence to be gathered from a petty crime that will assist a far bigger investigation.

Added Dr Brain: "It is not an exaggeration to say that rapists have been convicted on evidence gathered from stolen Mars bars."

Earlier in the meeting Dr Brain had explained the force was to some extent being held back by government underfunding.

He stated: "We are always the least well provided for force in the country. We get less than rural forces like Devon and certainly not as much as the urban forces like West Midlands."

Insp Donovan told the meeting crime had dropped "significantly" in both Dursley and the rest of his area compared with last year.

In fact, some figures were as low as they had been since the present recording system had been in place.

Insp Donovan said: "Both the domestic and non-domestic burglary rates are the lowest they have been since our current records began in 1998." Operation Fallback, the patrolling initiative carried out during the evenings after the clocks went back, was credited with having much to do with the drop.