Knife crime in Suffolk sees 20 per cent drop in latest figures

Suffolk remains one of the safest place to live, according to figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

The total recorded crime covering the 12 months to the end of December 2024 show that there were 58.1 crimes per 1,000 people, a decrease of 3.8 per cent compared to the previous 12 months.

Knife crime saw a drop of over 20pc, while public order, stalking and harassment, robbery, drug offences, violence against the person, criminal damage, possession of weapons also saw drops in recorded crime, compared to the previous 12-month period.

It means Suffolk remains ranked third for the lowest levels of recorded crime in England and Wales.

Five years ago, Suffolk was in 13th position in terms of its crime levels.

Deputy Chief Constable Rob Jones said: “We need to remember that crime statistics don’t give the full picture of a local policing service.

“I am acutely aware that if you have been the victim of a crime these results will mean little to you.

“For these people, the personal sense of shock and distress will always be there, I am sure and never leaves you.

“My sympathies are with you and our priority will always be to ensure we deliver a high level of service to victims.

“That said, these figures do show a consistent and stable position for the force.

“The figures demonstrate an affirmation of how safe we are as a county and are a mark of how we continue to improve, innovate and work hard to keep the people of Suffolk safe and to solve crime and catch criminals.

“We are always very cautious about performance tables, and I am not a great fan of them, but to see us rated third once again for a third consecutive period shows the strong sense of stability and very productive and successful working.”

“We have always been proud of having strong community links with our public in Suffolk and the introduction of our new policing model in December 2023 has strengthened this relationship.

“Over the past year, the response from community leaders and residents has on the whole been very supportive, well received and positive which is really encouraging to hear and we thank them for their support.”

Vehicle offences, theft, sexual offences and shoplifting all saw slight rises, compared to the previous 12 month period.

The constabulary has a number of different activities and initiatives targeting knife possession, serious violence and other criminality where knife crime is often associated including educational inputs, weeks of actions and operations, knife amnesty bins and work to tackle anti-social behaviour, gangs and violence.

Reducing knife crime is not just about handing out custodial sentences with education, conditions and court orders also offering opportunities for people to remove themselves from cycles of criminality.

Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said: “I am very proud to see that Suffolk remains one of the safest places in the country in which to live, work, travel and invest.

“Suffolk is a good force, but it is a small force covering a huge geographic area and is also one of the lowest-funded forces in the country.

“To be ranked third for the lowest levels of recorded crime in England and Wales for three consecutive quarters is a tremendous achievement.

“The significant drop in knife crime is very encouraging and I would like to think this is helped by the constabulary’s targeted focus in this area and the increase in visible community policing across the county but important to say we are not complacent.

“Suffolk Constabulary continues to punch well above its weight in the national arena and we should all be reassured by this.

“I would like to thank officers, staff and volunteers for their unstinting commitment to keep us safe.”