Safer Stockton Partnership has successfully reduced household burglaries for over a decade, all thanks to engaging crime prevention initiatives and the joint efforts from the Councils Community Safety, Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Service.
The rate of house burglary has dramatically reduced by 73% over the last 10 years, despite the number of households in the Borough increasing by more than 13,000. In 1998/99 the rate of burglary per 1,000 households was 34.8, but for 2008/09 this stands at only 9.3. This means that there were 1,603 fewer house burglaries in the last year, than compared to 10 years ago, which goes above and beyond the national target to achieve a reduction of 55%
Although Burglary is not one of Stockton's main priorities due to the already constant decrease in offences, the partnership still strives to reduce and rise above national averages. Initiatives that have contributed to burglary decrease, to name but a few include an increase of uniformed presence on the streets from the Police and Enforcement Team and organisation of the dedicated national burglary day of action that took place on the 7th of April this month, which helped create awareness, promote prevention techniques and provide advice to residents. The partnership, as well as engaging with the community on public scale offers support and advice on a more personal level. The close monitoring of repeat burglary victims provides engagement, help and offers advice to those who have been a victim of house burglary, ensuring that they are no longer targets.