Crime is down in Ballymena

Presented to a public meeting of the District Policing Partnership (DPP) last Thursday night in Ahoghill by Temporary Chief Inspector Sean Fitzpatrick, the decrease in the period April to June amounted to 197 fewer crimes.

In addition, the overall clearance rate was up from 24.9% to 28.9%.

Breaking down the latest crime statistics in his report, T/Ch Insp Fitzpatrick revealed plenty of “good news” for Ballymena PSNI and the local community.

The DPP meeting heard that crimes of violence against the person (with injury) were down by 4.6% or five crimes and (without injury) were down 7.1%, or nine crimes.

Also, sexual offences were down 35.3% or six crimes; burglary in a dwelling offences were down 18.6% or eight crimes and total burglary offences fell 20.6% or 20 crimes; offences against vehicles fell by a huge 71.9% or 41 crimes; criminal damage offences fell by 35.9% or 97 crimes; drug offences were down 28.6% or eight crimes; dangerous driving offences fell by 30% or three crimes and Anti Social Behaviour breaches were down by 33.3% or three crimes.

It was also revealed that rural crime is down by 28.1% or 66 crimes.

The meeting heard, however, that fraud and forgery crimes had risen by a not inconsiderable 161.5% or 21 crimes.

T/Ch Insp Fitzpatrick explained that the figures are up due to how police investigated ‘making off without payment’, which is handled through the PSNI’s Forecourt Watch Scheme.

“These figures will return to norm in a few months now that people are in place to manage the scheme,” he said.