Violent crime in the borough has spiked over the past year, according to the latest figures from Thames Valley Police. 

The number of violent incidents against a person that resulted in an injury has gone up by 21 per cent in Bracknell between August 1, 2021, and July 31, 2022, when compared with the previous 12 months. 

This is higher than the average for the Thames Valley area, which sits at and 18 per cent increase.

The statistics also show that violence against a person without causing injury is up 11 per cent during the same time frame – one per cent below the Thames Valley average for the period.

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Local Police Area Commander for Thames Valley Police, T/Supt Helen Kenny, told the council’s overview and scrutiny committee that Bracknell has seen a “significant rise in reported offences from a local secure hospital” as a result of changes in the partnership practices. 

T/Supt Kenny said the changes in trends are because the force is “encouraging more reporting” and “streamlining” the processes. She points to the borough’s rating of ‘Good’ for how crimes are reported in the latest His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) inspection. 

Incidents of harassment and stalking are up 25 per cent, a one per cent increase on the Thames Valley average.  

This year alone, Loddon Valley Police have hunted a man after reports of a girl being followed on her way home from school, as well as reports of a suspicious man stalking multiple women throughout Bracknell Forest.   

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T/Supt Kenny claims the changes in how crimes are recorded explain why it’s ‘not just Bracknell’ that’s seen such incidents increase. 

“In the past, we may have got a call from a neighbour who was reporting a problem with another neighbour. It would have been recorded as an anti-social behaviour type neighbourhood dispute. 

“Now that type of issue has to be recorded as harassment, which comes under the umbrella of violent offences,” T/Supt Kenny explained. 

The figures shown to last week’s committee revealed that Bracknell Forest was 9th out of 59 unitary authorities for the lowest crime rate, with 55 offences per 1,000 population. 

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The borough was 4th lowest out of 15 amongst Most Similar Groups (MSG), which are areas with similar demographics, with North Herefordshire being the lowest and Maidstone the highest. 

“This should give reassurance to our community about their safety,” said T/Supt Kenny. 

Despite this, knife crime has risen by eight per cent, compared to a six per cent increase across Thames Valley. Although this only equates to an additional three offences, Bracknell is one of the top three priorities for the police.

“It’s that long term preventative work that makes sure knife crime numbers remain as low as they do,” T/Supt Kenny explained.