A DECREASE in crime has been reported in Ringwood.

The town’s neighbourhood policing teams shared crime statistics for the last quarter at the meeting of Ringwood Town Council on Wednesday, July 31.

Sergeant Chris Pell reported an ‘overall decrease’ in the total number of crimes in comparison to the previous quarter.

The quarterly report by Ringwood South Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) noted there had been 44 ‘violence without injury’ offences in the last quarter, compared to 51 in the previous.

There were three ‘other sexual offences’ in the last quarter, compared to four in the previous, and five ‘vehicle offences’ in the last quarter, compared to 12 in the previous.

However there had been an increase in shoplifting offences; there were 27 in the last quarter, compared to 19 in the previous.

The quarterly report by Ringwood North (Poulner) NPT noted a reduction in ‘criminal damage’, with six offences in the last quarter, compared to 13 in the previous, and ‘all other theft offences’, with two in the last quarter, compared to seven in the previous.

There was a slight increase in ‘violence with injury’ offences, with five in the last quarter, compared to four in the previous, as well as ‘other sexual offences’, with one in the last quarter, compared to zero in the previous.

After the statistics were presented, Sergeant Pell outlined current operations and outcomes.

The meeting minutes read: “He is working with local businesses to focus on shoplifting and is looking to promote the introduction of a ShopWatch scheme so that businesses can share live information.

"Other issues that were discussed include use of CCTV cameras in licensed premises, the issue of noisy vehicles (which should be reported as antisocial behaviour) and the reintroduction of Police stations in some areas by the Police & Crime Commissioner (there are no current plans for Ringwood).

"Sergeant Pell concluded by encouraging reporting of all crimes as the more information that is available, the easier it is to prevent and solve crimes."