How Much Crime is there in Newquay?

Statistics suggest that crime is on the way down in Newquay and Cornwall.  Comparing overall crime levels form the same three month (July, August, September) period in 2010 and 2009, crime is down by 6.3%.

Online Stats

Having spent the summer working on increasing police visibility within the town, the perception by local people has picked up recently.  However, as a popular party town, how does Newquay fit as part of wider Cornwall statistics – the crime group on newquaypeople is a fairly busy place.  As the police force attempts to increase its transparency, all of these figures can be found online on a ‘maps’ section of the police website (click here).  As well as providing a broad overview, the clever site also gives more detailed stats about different kinds of crime, providing figures as well as a colour coded indicator as to whether the area is: low, below average, average, above average or high.

Truro & Cornwall – ‘Distinctly Average’

Burglary – Average: Up 5.9% from 2009

Robbery – Average – No change from 2009

Vehicles – Low – Down 14.2% from 2009

Violence – Average – Up 4.3% from last 2009

Anti-Social Behaviour – Average – Down 12.3% from 2009

Local View

We asked local people what they thought of the figures, and it would seem that most people are not that surprised at the ‘average’ label.  The majority of those we spoke to seemed most surprised at the size of the drop in vehicle crime, while our friends on Twitter were a little less positive about Newquay crime rates.

@cernyw - @truropeople Helston and Truro least crime. Newquay and Bodmin worst.

@clementshawes  - @truropeople I reckon Newquay has high drunken, assault and drug rates. Truro prob fighting, drugs and car crime?

Liam Nicholls: “To be honest, I would’ve thought that Cornwall would be below average.  I’ve noticed a change in kids on street corners, but not that much, although next to cities like Plymouth* I would’ve thought we were  very low.”

*(If you check the stats, Plymouth is above average, coated in a burnt orange next to our washed out yellow of average-ness).

Have your say.

Do your experiences match the data? Do you think that the police crackdown has had an impact on Newquay crime?  Does it feel like crime is down in the area from last year?  What should the police be focussing on?