Robberies in Suffolk double in a decade

WORRYING figures today revealed the volume of robberies in Suffolk has almost doubled in the last decade.

There were 141 incidents in 1997, but ten years on and that number has leapt to 271 - a sharp rise of more than 92 per cent.

The statistics have come to light following a parliamentary question tabled by West Suffolk MP and shadow minister for home affairs, David Ruffley.

Police chiefs today vowed to clampdown on violent crime, and highlighted the fact that the number of robberies in Suffolk had stagnated during the last six years.

The figures are in contrast to the latest crime statistics released by Suffolk police, which indicate a fall in violent offending by 6.8pc in 2007/08, compared with the previous two years.

Overall crime in the county has also plummeted by 5.4pc to its lowest level in seven years.

A Suffolk police spokesman said: “There is a great deal of hard work and commitment by officers and staff at the constabulary to reduce crime levels in the county.

“In 2007/8, overall crime fell by 5.4 per cent, and the number of robberies committed during that period also fell by 3.3pc.

“Over recent years the number of robberies committed in Suffolk has levelled off considerably.

“This is a positive sign, but we will not be complacent and will continue to work towards reducing this even further.”

There have been two armed robberies in Ipswich in the last fortnight, the first at a newsagent in Major's Corner, and the second at the Shell garage in Wherstead Road.

Nationally, robberies are down by 21 per cent - the largest fall of any crime according to new Home Office figures.

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Robberies in Suffolk:

1997: 141

1998/99: 140

1999/2000: 223

2000/01: 177

2001/02: 289

2002/03: 249

2003/04: 290

2004/05: 260

2005/06: 271

2006/07: 271

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