STATISTICS highlighting the most peaceful places in the UK have put North East Lincolnshire in the bottom 20 per cent because of crime and disorder – and show we have fewer police officers than average.
Our area was number 271 in a list of 343 local authorities on the UK Peace Index – which is calculated using Home Office statistics on specific crimes and a 1 to 5 rating of police officers per 100,000 people.
It puts the borough in the bottom 20 per cent, with the majority of those below us being major cities – including areas of London, Manchester and Birmingham.
The statistics show our rates are above average in all four of the crime categories – murder, violent crime, weapons crime, public disorder – and particularly in violent crime.
Yet we have a below average number of police officers, with a rating on a 1 to 5 scale of just 1.370 per 100,000 people compared to 2.260 in 2005 – and the number looks likely to fall further as Humberside Police strive to save £30 million from their budget by 2018.
However, it also shows that crime has dropped in the area – coinciding with a national fall – with the overall score, again based on the 1 to 5 weightings incorporating crime and police numbers, dropping from 4.11 in 2005 to 2.82 in 2012.
Matthew Grove, Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner, said that there are many positives to take from the report.
He said: "The numbers in this survey do not fully reflect the true picture – that crime is falling, not just in North East Lincolnshire but in all areas of our region.
"I have every confidence that Humberside Police will continue to work with its partners and the public to build on the excellent progress that has already been made."
In the Yorkshire and Humber area – which is sixth in the UK – North East Lincolnshire was second to the bottom of the list of authorities, with only Kingston Upon Hull being less peaceful.
Even cities in the area were above Grimsby in the local table, with Bradford placed at 18th in the region and 255th nationally, Leeds 17th and 243rd and Sheffield placing 14th and 233rd.
However, a more peaceful way of life is just around the corner – West Lindsey was the 20th most peaceful place to live in the country and East Lindsey was 150th on the list.
Councillor Burt Keimach (Con, Market Rasen), Leader of West Lindsey District Council, was delighted to be so highly rated – but said that officials will not be complacent.
He added: "I'm really pleased that we rank so highly on such a long list and on the whole, West Lindsey is a very nice and peaceful place to live.
"However, serious crime is not the only thing to be considered – people care about the low-level things happening outside their front doors.
"We're constantly working with the police and looking to provide things for young people to do which will keep them entertained or we could have a problem."
Editor's Comment CRIMES statistics, bobbies on the beat, vandalism figures – all these issues are of concern to anyone who lives in today's society. However opinions will vary greatly depending on where a person lives and the lifestyle they lead. A working family that has its life in the comfortable suburbs will have an extremely different view to the state of our criminal nation when compared to those who are perhaps unemployed, living in the centre of a town or city, perhaps in an area that has its fair share of issues. The former will most likely not have experienced major crime, will rarely be disturbed at night by roaming gangs or smashing bottles – nor will they encounter too much anti-social behaviour. But put your feet in the shoes of the latter and the opposite will apply, as we report many times. Is all of this a reflection of a Britain that is becoming more and more divided and is current Government policy to blame for this?What do you think? Do you think North East Lincolnshire is a peaceful place to live? Comment on this story or e-mail viewpoint@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk
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