Sharp rise in robberies across Hemel, Berkhamsted and Tring in 2019

The number of robberies in Dacorum has increased by almost a third, according to the latest police statistics.

Office for National Statistics data shows there were 134 reported robberies in 2019, these can include muggings, as well as more serious attacks such as hold ups with guns and knives.

That figure is up 30 per cent on 2018, when 103 incidents were recorded.

Overall police recorded crime in Dacorum slightly decreased in 2019, over the period, 10,881 crimes were recorded, down by 4 per cent compared to the year before.

The statistics are based on crimes reported to the police, and the ONS urges caution in interpreting some of these figures.

Despite rising slightly nationally, possession of weapons offences in Dacorum have dropped by 21, to 71 incidents. These include knives, hand guns and even corrosive acid.

There have been three homicides, which are murders or manslaughters. There were three cases of death or injury by dangerous driving.

In Dacorum, theft, one of the most high volume crimes, decreased by 5 per cent, drugs related offences dropped by 14 per cent.

Criminal damage in Dacorum, which includes arson and vandalising cars and houses, has gone down, from 1,297 incidents in 2018, to 1,134 in the latest figures.

Violence with injury crimes, which include assault, GBH and wounding, have dropped. Similarly sexual offences are hard to judge as many more victims are now coming forward due to a series of high profile cases. In Dacorum, there were 323 incidents recorded last year, a 1% decrease on the previous year, when 327 crimes were reported.

There were also 681 cases of stalking and harassment reported over the same period.

Dacorum Chief Inspector Craig Flint said: “I understand that some residents may be concerned about the latest robbery figures for Dacorum however I want to reassure them that a large proportion of these crimes involve people that are already known to one another, and it is very unusual to be targeted at random.

"For this reason, these types of incidents often go unreported due to victims’ fear of retribution however officers work to build a rapport with them and encourage their support of a police investigation, which could be attributed to the rise in reports.

"Dacorum has great transport links, meaning criminals from other areas can travel into our borough to commit crime.

"However our proactive Operation Scorpion team conducts regular operations using knife arches and Stop and Search powers to check those passing through the town’s railways station, as well as utilising ANPR camera technology to stop vehicles of interest on our road network. This work often results in arrests, vehicle seizures and intelligence recorded.

"Overall, recorded crime in Dacorum decreased by 4% last year, remaining below the England and Wales average of 89 crimes per 1,000 residents with a rate of 71.

"There has been a reduction across the Community Safety Partnership in crimes relating to possession of weapons, theft, drugs, violence with injury (including GBH), sexual offences and criminal damage, with some decreasing by as much as 14%.

"This is very pleasing and provides welcome confirmation that our crime-prevention strategies are achieving the results we want.

“Officers in our intervention teams and our proactive Operation Scorpion team have been relentlessly pursuing those who choose to commit crime in Dacorum, supported by detectives from the Local Crime Unit, Community Safety Unit and the Safer Neighbourhood Team.

"As a result of partnership work and where intelligence indicates there is an issue, the teams have conducted a number of drugs warrants, closure orders and arrests to directly tackle those who have a detrimental effect on law-abiding citizens and their communities.

“However we will not be complacent, and it is important to remember that we cannot reach this positive outcome alone.

"We enjoy a fantastic working relationship with our partner agencies, including the council, in Dacorum that helps us to do further important work to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

"But it is the public that also contribute to ensuring Dacorum remains a safe place to live, work and learn by reporting incidents to us, taking on board crime prevention measures and looking out for one another, something which is more significant now than ever before against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.”

“We have strong contingency plans in place across the Constabulary in response to COVID-19 so please keep reporting incidents to us – we are policing in extraordinary times but it’s very much business as usual for our teams who are working hard day in, day out to catch criminals and keep people safe in Dacorum.

“You can tell us what you think we should be prioritising in your neighbourhood by using our online feedback platform, echo.

"You can submit your feedback – anonymously if you wish – at bit.ly/police-dacorum. By doing this, you will be able to help your local officers frame their policing priorities and focus their resources on the issues that matter most to you.”