'Suffolk is one of the safest counties in the UK'

Tim Passmore, police commissioner for Suffolk (right), with chief constable Rachel Kearton, says the county is one of the safest in the country

Suffolk was named as one the "safest places in the country" after reports of knife crime were revealed to be at their lowest for eight years, according to new data.

Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows 303 crimes involving a knife were recorded by Suffolk Police between June 2023 and June 2024.

In the 12 months to June 2022, meanwhile, the force received 485 knife crime reports from across the county, making for a reduction of about 38%.

The latest figure marks the lowest for knife crime in Suffolk since the April 2015 and March 2016 period, during which 277 crimes were reportedly carried out with a knife.

Reports of crime involving knives in Suffolk are at their lowest for eight years

The total recorded crime in the 12 months to June 2024 has also gone down by 7.4% to 59.9 crimes per 1,000 people, with about 46,000 crimes being reported.

This, bosses at Suffolk Police said, makes Suffolk one of the top three counties in the UK where people are the least likely to become victims of crime.

Tim Passmore, police and crime commissioner for Suffolk, said: "These are a very positive set of statistics which show Suffolk as one of the safest places.

"I appreciate these statistics may be little consolation to anyone who has been a victim of crime, but it is good news for Suffolk as a whole."

In addition to knife crime, reports of bicycle crime (-24.1%), stalking and harassment (-24.1%), public order (-18.4%) and robbery (-14.6%) have also all reduced.

As have drug offending (-12.1%), sexual offences (-4.5%), domestic burglary (-3.8%), criminal damage/arson (-2.2%), and possession of weapons (-1%).

Reports of theft (+0.2%), vehicle offences (+1.4%), burglary (2.3%), and shoplifting (+7.7%) have slightly increased, while non-residential burglary is up 12.4%.

Deputy chief constable Rob Jones is pleased with the new figures published by the ONS

Deputy chief constable Rob Jones said: "Declining levels of recorded crime do nothing to alleviate the personal trauma and distress victims of crime experience.

"But to add context, in the period covering December 2019 to December 2020 the force was ranked 13th in the country – that clearly shows the progress we’ve made.

"Our priority remains improving detection rates for victims and we are always looking to make sure our detectives have the right investigative skills for the modern age.

"As always, we remain grateful for the support from Suffolk residents which is demonstrated every time we appeal for help to prevent crime or catch criminals."