North Yorkshire and the City of York remains the safest and lowest crime area in England.
The latest report from iQuanta, the Home Office-led statistics website, showed the force’s crime rate per 1,000 residents to be 33.282.
This places North Yorkshire Police as having the lowest crime rate in England, and second overall in England and Wales with only Dyfed Powys at 28.959 lower.
The national average crime rate is 44.701 per 1,000 residents.
Deputy Chief Constable Tim Madgwick said:
To be the safest and lowest crime area in the whole of England for such a sustained period of time is a significant achievement for everyone connected to North Yorkshire Police and our local partners.
Our officers, PCSOs and police staff work tirelessly day in and day out to keep our communities safe and secure. It is therefore very pleasing to see they are making such an important contribution to enhancing the quality of people’s lives.
Together with our community safety partnerships and local authorities, we are more determined than ever to keep a firm grip on crime into the new year and beyond.
We will continue to come down hard on criminals, be it those living within the county or those who travel from outside.
The message to the criminal fraternity is a simple one: We are out there watching and waiting for you – one wrong move and you will be arrested and brought to justice.
To our residents right across North Yorkshire and the City of York, we wish you all a very happy and safe New Year.
Chairman of the Police Authority, Jane Kenyon said:
This report is yet further confirmation of the hard work and dedication afforded by officers and staff of North Yorkshire Police; keeping our communities safe and free from harm on a daily basis.
Members were informed at the full Authority meeting on 12 December that crime had reduced by 9% (1,940 crimes) in the first six months of this financial year compared to the same time last year, so it is little surprise that this report finds the area to be the safest in England.
We all recognise how difficult this year has been, and what better way to say goodbye to it than to sign off as the safest county in England.
However, strong performance does not bring complacency. Whilst my and Authority members’ heartfelt thanks and pride go to all officers, staff and colleagues for these results, my reassurance to communities is that we will continue to do all we can to ensure you have the best possible policing service in 2012.
We know we will face more challenges in the coming year, not least the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the Olympics and the election of the Police and Crime Commissioner. But I know that every member of the force will rise to those challenges with the professionalism and dedication that has seen us succeed so well this year.
