Living in hope

The story this week in the Echo about the increase in dwelling burglaries does mention our response and it's pleasing to be able to say that we are having some success and we have arrested 36 suspected burglars just since the 1st of January. Some of the comments on the story talk about the rise being caused by the economic downturn. Others don’t agree. I am sure it's a significant (but not only) factor. Whatever the cause we will go on catching burglars but prevention is even better so I appeal to people to do what they can to make their property safer. We have too many cases where houses, doors and windows are left unlocked or open. Please also tell us straight away if you see anything suspicious and don't buy someone else's misery. The laptops, cameras and phones being stolen are being sold on to people who must suspect their origin. Buying can be 'Handling' and that’s a serious crime in it's own right.

On a happier note in December all recorded crime in Southampton was the lowest in one month that it has been since 2003. I know the cynical will say that was because of the weather and it may have played a part but let's not deny that a reduction in overall reported crime has been sustained consistently for the last few years. 14% down in Southampton last year and down another 6% since April 2010.

Some readers will already be 'turning off' and moaning at my quoting crime data so that’s enough for now.

This weekend we have another high-octane football match at St Mary's. I was at the last round (as a punter) and enjoyed seeing what I thought was a great bunch of away fans (and of course the great result). Let's hope on Saturday the away crowd is as good humoured and that no Saints fans let down the club or the City. Is it madness to hope for a similar result………………..? Probably but optimism is generally the best approach in work and play so I will hope for a win and, with public help, for us to stem the flow of burglaries very soon.

Tell us how to tell you more and how to do it better

I've mentioned the new police station several times and now at last we have taken it over from the developers so it's ours. Well I suppose really it's yours (if you are a resident of Hampshire and IoW) as it belongs to Hampshire Police Authority who hold your council tax and the government grant which pays for local policing. I certainly feel as though it's a building for the whole City community and I hope we can make it a more open and friendly place for everyone, staff and public, who will use it from 7th March. As well as a better building to use another thing I want to be better this year is to make more use of different ways to communicate to people in the City about policing and what we are doing including using social networking and other internet based systems more. I'd be really pleased to get any comments about how we could do that better.
An example of the type of thing I'd want to communicate more effectively is the fact that, as I have said before, we've got a problem with the amount of burglaries being commmitted in Southampton and too many people are not taking care of their homes and property. If you have a home in the City then please do the obvious things like keeping valuables out of public sight and when you are out or asleep then lock your doors! I said it was a bit obvious I know but it often doesn’t get done. Don't make it easy for burglars and please report to us any suspicious things you see going on. I'd be really pleased if our new station cells saw some burglars locked up in them as soon as possible!