Thames Valley crime rates continue to fall

Figures for Oxon, Berks and Bucks were released on November 20, with the National Crime Statistics showing there were 8.8 per cent fewer crimes in Thames Valley between July 2010 and June 2011.

Violent crime, sexual offences, domestic burglaries and criminal damage are among some of the categories of crime which have fallen at a higher rate than the national average.

The largest fall was in the category of offences against vehicles, which reduced by 20.6 per cent, almost 13 per cent higher than the national average fall for that category.

However, the number of drug offences has risen by two per cent, which is higher than the national average of a one-and-a-half per cent decrease.

Despite this, the majority of crime rates in the Thames Valley area are below the national average, and are continuing to fall.