New figures show that the level of violent crime in Renfrewshire fell during the festive season compared to the year before.

Between early December and early January there were significant drops in serious assaults, attempted murders, domestic violence and robbery or assault with the intent to rob across Renfrewshire compared to the same period the year before.

Statistics show that in the period between 7 December 2009 and 10 January 2010 there was reductions of:
– A drop of 42% in serious assaults
– A 59% drop in Robbery/Assault with intent to Rob
– A 25% drop in Domestic Incidents

400 people were charged with breach of the peace and drinking or urinating in public – a 30.6% increase in detections.

There were also no attempted murders or serious assaults in Paisley Town Centre.
Superintendent Donald McCallum, of Strathclyde Police, said “Officers working in Renfrewshire and Paisley Town Centre have achieved some significant results over the past year and over the festive period in reducing violent crime, targeting repeat offenders and policing trouble spots.
“While the recent bad weather has caused people to stay indoors, we have also seen a 25% reduction in domestic incidents over the festive period.
“There are more police on the streets of Renfrewshire than ever before and violent crime is at its lowest for years.
“We will continue to search people in hotspot areas and be as visible as possible in deterring those intent on violent crime or anti-social behaviour.
“I am proud of the hard work of local officers and staff in contributing to these very positive results. There has been an incredible amount of support for officers from Renfrewshire Wardens and the local community.
“While violence is at a low level it is still too high and we are not complacent. This focus will to continue. I hope everyone in Paisley and Renfrewshire are reassured by these results and I give them my assurance that we will continue our efforts in reducing violence and anti-social behaviour”
The results are great news for the Safer and Stronger Renfrewshire Partnership which has seen the police team up with Renfrewshire Council, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company and Renfrewshire Community Health Partnership, to tackle key community safety issues with a joint approach.

As part of the £35,000 festive safety campaign there were additional police and wardens patrols, taxi marshals in place to help ensure people get home safely after a Christmas night out.

Councillor Brian Lawson, Renfrewshire Council’s Community Safety spokesman, said: “Over the course of the last year we have seen a number of significant achievements in terms of falling crime figures, including decreasing levels of youth disorder in areas where the partnership’s youth diversion activities are in place. We have also seen the lowest crime level in Renfrewshire in the last ten years.

“These figures for the festive period build on that success and are a very encouraging sign that we are making Renfrewshire a safer place to live, work and visit. We will be continuing to work together in 2010 to see this trend continue.”

www.renfrewshire.gov.uk

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