Croydon is getting safer says borough commander

2:17pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

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Croydon's top cop has said the borough is getting safer despite concerns over the number of teens carrying knives.

According to borough commander Chief Superintendent Mark Gore youth stabbings are not out of control.

"It’s a bit of a catch 22. I mean, you are concerned, but I haven’t noticed a huge increase in the number of stabbings."

Chief Superintendent Mark Gore

Chief Supt Gore made the comments a week after Met figures showed overall reported crime in Croydon was falling.

But he admitted Croydon police had failed to hit a 20 per cent reduction target set by the Government in 2005.

Since then, reported crime has fallen by about 18.2 per cent, and Chief Supt Gore said most of that had been achieved after he took over in early 2006.

He said: "We have achieved something in the region of 14 per cent over the past two years since I have been here. I think that the overall message on that is that over the past five years we have seen crime reduce in this borough every year.

"If you look at it from 2003 to 2004 we had 22,088 crimes and in 2007 to 2008 we took it down to 18,077 crimes.

"Unfortunately, the year that I arrived they had only achieved a half per cent reduction in crime. I mean, it is always going to be pretty challenging to try and hit a 20 per cent target."

He added: "Historically, there has been recognition of under-reporting of crime. I would say though, this year we have seen an increase in the amount of calls coming through to us."

On teen knife crime Chief Supt Gore said: "Everything that goes in the media concerns me. It's a bit of a catch 22. I mean, you are concerned, but I haven't noticed a huge increase in the number of stabbings.

"What does concern me is the number of young people who carry knives.

"I think some of them have a flawed belief that by carrying a knife it will offer protection and they obviously feel they have to protect themselves."