CRIME has dropped in the Fordingbridge town area according to the latest police figures.

The latest yearly figures were presented during Fordingbridge Town Council’s annual town meeting last Wednesday (April 17) in the town hall.

PCSO Steve May said: “Overall, there is a decrease of just over 20 per cent.”

For April 2018 to March 2019 the overall crime total was 265 compared to 337 for April 2017 to March 2018 – a drop of 21.36 per cent.

Violence with injury offences were down from 41 to 38 and violence without injury also decreased from 51 to 38.

There was also a drop in the number of residential burglaries which was down by ten from 36 to 26, but there was an increase in burglaries relating to business and community which was up by four from nine to 13.

Vehicle offences dropped by 26 from 43 to 17, and bicycle thefts were down from four to three. Shoplifting offences dropped from seven to four, but incidents classed as “other theft offences” were up ten from 37 to 47. Public order offences were down from 31 to 18. The figures also showed criminal damage decreased from 51 to 32.

PCSO May told the meeting there had been an increase in drug related offences and officers were doing “positive proactive work” including carrying out drug warrants in the town.

Possession of drugs were up from one to six and trafficking of drugs was up from zero to two.

“A lot of the possession of drugs are where more searches are being done and information is being received around Roundhills car park,” he said.

Overall crime for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is up from 159,306 for 2017 - 2018 to 159,630 for 2018 - 2019. The figures for the New Forest were down to 10,804 from 10,958.

The meeting was also told the neighbourhood policing team is due to get an extra officer.

PC Tom Neale said: “We are tackling the issues that people tell us about. It means we are not always on foot as much as we would like to be.

“We are doing a lot of work. Hopefully when we get that extra officer we will be out more because we know that is what people want to see.”

Inspector Scott Beney, from the New Forest’s neighbourhood policing team, said: “We are pleased to see a sustained drop in crime for Fordingbridge, but we will not be complacent. We will continue to liaise with our partners and engage with the local communities to identify issues and to work hard to bring offenders to justice.”