SUFFOLK appears to be an incredibly safe place to live according to latest figures - with nearly 25 communities reporting less than one crime a week.
But police chiefs last night refused to rest on their laurels, promising to continue their zero tolerance approach and target those issues that are of particular concern.
Despite hot spots in the larger towns of Ipswich and Lowestoft the general picture appears to be overwhelmingly positive.
Of those communities that seem to perform particularly well are Debenham, with just 29 crimes reported for 2009/10, and Worlingworth with just 32.
A total of 24 areas report the equivalent of less than one crime a week.
Mid Suffolk is the safest district with 3,231 crimes reported between 2009/10, followed by Babergh, Forest Heath and then Suffolk Coastal.
Meanwhile in Ipswich 13,815 crimes were reported, 8,226 in Waveney and 6,609 in St Edmundsbury.
The figures have been compiled by The Suffolk Observatory using data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Last night police chiefs warned against complacency and pledged to continue to crack down on those issues that communities were particularly concerned about.
A spokesman for Suffolk Constabulary said: “This year crime in Suffolk has been at it’s lowest for almost a decade.
“Through pro-active targeted policing we will continue to build upon this solid foundation as well as focussing on increasing local people’s confidence in their local policing service.
“Suffolk remains a safe county in which to live and work and we must ensure that we continue to deliver the best possible service.
“We want to make sure local people feel safe and feel we are doing a good job.”
The Suffolk Observatory is a partnership between Choose Suffolk, Suffolk County Council, district and borough councils, NHS Suffolk and Suffolk Constabulary.
The communities with the lowest crime rates, with number of crimes in a full year
1. Debenham 29
2. Worlingworth 32
3 = Chadacre 33
Peasenhall 33
5. Chedburgh 40
6 = Stradbroke/Laxfield 41
Earl Soham 41
8. Hoxne 43
9 = Nayland 44
Grundisburgh 44
The Saints 44
Fressingfield 44
The number of crimes recorded in Suffolk for 2009/10
Ward Number of reported crimes
Babergh
Alton 77
Berners 100
Boxford 48
Brett Vale 50
Brook 181
Bures St Mary 45
Chadacre 33
Dodnash 98
Glemsford and Stanstead 136
Great Cornard North 230
Great Cornard South 199
Hadleigh North 267
Hadleigh South 95
Holbrook 45
Lavenham 86
Leavenheath 46
Long Melford 206
Lower Brett 45
Mid Samford 114
Nayland 44
North Cosford 73
Pinewood 260
South Cosford 51
Sudbury East 396
Sudbury North 382
Sudbury South 777
Waldingfield 149
Forest Heath
All Saints 332
Brandon East 651
Brandon West 241
Eriswell and The Rows 228
Exning 93
Great Heath 300
Iceni 58
Lakenheath 181
Manor 107
Market 430
Red Lodge 148
St Mary’s 872
Severals 766
South 52
Ipswich
Alexandra 4,167
Bixley 368
Bridge 743
Castle Hill 361
Gainsborough 864
Gipping 1,150
Holywells 473
Priory Heath 841
Rushmere 347
St John’s 403
St Margaret’s 451
Sprites 344
Stoke Park 454
Westgate 1,440
Whitehouse 912
Whitton 497
Mid Suffolk
Bacton and Old Newton 48
Badwell Ash 68
Barking and Somersham 64
Bramford and Blakenham 191
Claydon and Barham 155
Debenham 29
Elmswell and Norton 134
Eye 133
Fressingfield 44
Gislingham 68
Haughley and Wetherden 57
Helmingham and Coddenham 64
Hoxne 43
Mendlesham 45
Needham Market 124
Onehouse 95
Palgrave 84
Rattlesden 58
Rickinghall and Walsham 127
Ringshall 50
Stowmarket Central 565
Stowmarket North 321
Stowmarket South 211
Stowupland 77
Stradbroke and Laxfield 41
The Stonhams 79
Thurston and Hessett 107
Wetheringsett 54
Woolpit 63
Worlingworth 32
St Edmundsbury
Abbeygate 967
Bardwell 89
Barningham 128
Barrow 76
Cavendish 56
Chedburgh 40
Clare 77
Eastgate 379
Fornham 82
Great Barton 47
Haverhill East 458
Haverhill North 428
Haverhill South 701
Haverhill West 228
Horringer and Whelnetham 53
Hundon 143
Ixworth 75
Kedington 66
Minden 309
Moreton Hall 201
Northgate 170
Pakenham 54
Risby 96
Risbygate 773
Rougham 82
St Olaves 226
Southgate 210
Stanton 66
Westgate 128
Wickhambrook 101
Withersfield 100
Suffolk Coastal
Aldeburgh 218
Earl Soham 41
Farlingaye 114
Felixstowe East 110
Felixstowe North 243
Felixstowe South 618
Felixstowe South East 460
Felixstowe West 400
Framlingham 186
Grundisburgh 44
Hacheston 60
Hollesley with Eyke 81
Kesgrave East 169
Kesgrave West 140
Kyson 129
Leiston 455
Martlesham 236
Melton and Ufford 204
Nacton 376
Orford and Tunstall 45
Otley 84
Peasenhall 33
Rendlesham 88
Riverside 98
Rushmere St Andrew 119
Saxmundham 240
Seckford 278
Snape 61
Sutton 64
Trimleys with Kirton 187
Walberswick and Wenhaston 70
Wickham Market 91
Witnesham 69
Yoxford 58
Waveney
Beccles North 316
Beccles South 149
Blything 48
Bungay 319
Carlton 167
Carlton Colville 314
Gunton and Corton 308
Halesworth 179
Harbour 1,896
Kessingland 335
Kirkley 1,378
Lothingland 68
Normanston 647
Oulton 127
Oulton Broad 189
Pakefield 391
St Margaret’s 439
Southwold and Reydon 143
The Saints 44
Wainford 76
Whitton 555
Worlingham 85
Wrentham 53
SOURCE: The Suffolk Observatory
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