The Eye's Blog

The latest national crime figures have recently been released, for the 12 months up to September 2014, showing crime is at an all time low.
But what do they actually mean? In truth, very little.
The “Crime survey of England and Wales” (CSEW) showed a 11% decrease in crime compared to the previous 12 months.
However only 39 of the 1,448 offences, notifiable by the police to the Home Office, are used in establishing this figure. Of these 39 offences the estimate is based upon domestic crime only, so burglary, robbery and theft involving businesses are not included in the overall total.
The figures for vehicle crime does not include commercial vehicles and criminal damage excludes crimes relating to businesses premises and public buildings.
Of the main crime categories used by the Home Office, victim based crimes not covered include shoplifting, homicides and sexual crimes. No crimes against the state appear in the statistics, these included drug offences, possession of weapons, public order and other miscellaneous crimes.
Incidents of Fraud are not included, so cheque/plastic card offences, cyber enabled/dependant crime do not appear in the headline figures.
Lastly, crimes committed against those under 16 also do not appear in figures quoted.

The survey was first used in 1982, the core survey has changed little in this time but additional questionnaires have been added that address some of the shortcoming described above. However, the results of these do not form a part of the headline figures.

There is little doubt that a lot of the crime which forms the CSEW has decreased in volume but the headline figures do not reflect the changes in the way crime is conducted and the speed “new” crimes have become commonplace.

We are now far more likely to suffer lose from cyber crime than burglary or theft.

Don’t be fooled by these figures, they have little to do with the number of offences being committed nor the workload being placed on our police forces in preventing crime taking place.

At the end of the day no one really knows if crime is decreasing but it is certainly changing.

Home security often takes a back sit whilst you are settling into your new home. 

Unfortunately. Billy Burglar is aware of this.

Your property is especially vulnerable at this time but by taking a few simple steps you can help reduce your chances of become a victim of crime.

The following leaflet, produced by Essex Police, offers some useful advice.

Keeping you safe in your new home 

Shed security fact sheet from Essex Police

Sheds and garages have always been easy-pickings for thieves and until recently break-ins have mainly occurred during winter and spring.

This year however, there has been no let-up and we have seen offences occurring almost daily.

Whilst the police are doing everything they can to prevent, deter and detect these offences, home-owners also have a clear part to play if we are to reduce these thefts and keep your possessions where they should be – in your shed or garage, not in the thief’s.

Please take a moment to read through these ten top tips and implement as many of the suggestions as you can…

TEN TOP TIPS FOR SHED AND GARAGE SECURITY