Author: Sandra

Members of the public have an opportunity to quiz Suffolk’s Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioner during an online discussion later this month.

The online meeting will take place on Tuesday 20 May at 6pm via Microsoft Teams.

Residents will be able to speak to Rachel Kearton and Tim Passmore about policing in the county, or type their questions in if they prefer.

Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said: “Having direct contact with the public is vital and helps me to represent the views of all the communities in Suffolk. I invite everyone to join in online so we can answer their questions and gauge public opinions on a range of issues.”

He added, “I am hoping for an open and frank two-way dialogue, it is important that I listen and represent your views, so please spread the word.”

Chief Constable Rachel Kearton said: “I always look forward to these public events as it’s really important to hear the view from the people we serve. We’ve made great progress with our call answering in the Contact and Control Room and we remain the third lowest county for recorded levels of crime according to the Office of National Statistics, but we can’t rest on our laurels. We still need to hear from the public on how we can continue to improve and innovate to ensure we remain a compassionate, courageous and professional police service.”

To register please contact katherine.boswell@suffolk.police.uk and an invite will be sent through via email in advance of the meeting.

Suffolk remains one of the safest place to live, according to figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

The total recorded crime covering the 12 months to the end of December 2024 show that there were 58.1 crimes per 1000 people*, a decrease of 3.8% compared to the previous 12 months.

Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said: “I am very proud to see that Suffolk remains one of the safest places in the country in which to live, work, travel and invest.

“Suffolk is a good force, but it is a small force covering a huge geographic area and is also one of the lowest-funded forces in the country. To be ranked third for the lowest levels of recorded crime in England and Wales for three consecutive quarters is a tremendous achievement.

“The significant drop in knife crime is very encouraging and I would like to think this is helped by Constabulary’s targeted focus in this area and the increase in visible community policing across the county but important to say we are not complacent.

“Suffolk Constabulary continues to punch well above its weight in the national arena and we should all be reassured by this.

“I would like to thank officers, staff and volunteers for their unstinting commitment to keep us safe.”

The ONS figures show knife crime dropped by of over 20%, while public order, stalking and harassment, robbery, drug offences, violence against the person, criminal damage, possession of weapons also saw drops in recorded crime, compared to the previous 12-month period.

It means Suffolk remains ranked third for the lowest levels of recorded crime in England and Wales. Five years ago, Suffolk was in 13th position in terms of its crime levels.

Deputy Chief Constable Rob Jones said: “We need to remember that crime statistics don’t give the full picture of a local policing service.

“I am acutely aware that if you have been the victim of a crime these results will mean little to you. For these people, the personal sense of shock and distress will always be there, I am sure and never leaves you. My sympathies are with you and our priority will always be to ensure we deliver a high level of service to victims.

“That said, these figures do show a consistent and stable position for the force. The figures demonstrate an affirmation of how safe we are as a county and are a mark of how we continue to improve, innovate and work hard to keep the people of Suffolk safe and to solve crime and catch criminals.

“We are always very cautious about performance tables, and I am not a great fan of them, but to see us rated third once again for a third consecutive period shows the strong sense of stability and very productive and successful working.”

“We have always been proud of having strong community links with our public in Suffolk and the introduction of our new policing model in December 2023 has strengthened this relationship.

“Over the past year, the response from community leaders and residents has on the whole been very supportive, well received and positive which is really encouraging to hear and we thank them for their support.”

Vehicle offences, theft, sexual offences and shoplifting all saw slight rises, compared to the previous 12 month period.

The constabulary has a number of different activities and initiatives targeting knife possession, serious violence and other criminality where knife crime is often associated including educational inputs, weeks of actions and operations, knife amnesty bins and work to tackle anti-social behaviour, gangs and violence. Reducing knife crime is not just about handing out custodial sentences with education, conditions and court orders also offering opportunities for people to remove themselves from cycles of criminality.

Suffolk’s national ranking for lowest levels of recorded crime:

Dec 2023 – Dec 2024 – 3rd

Sept 2023 – Sept 2024 – 3rd

June 2023 – June 2024 – 3rd

March 2023 – March 2024 – 4th

Dec 2022 – Dec 2023 – 4th

Sept 2022 – Sept 2023 – 5th

June 2022 – June 2023 – 6th

Dec 2019 – Dec 2020 – ranked 13th

Percentage change (Dec 23 to Dec 24):

Knife crime: -21.4%

Public order: -14%

Stalking and harassment: -14.4%

Bicycle theft: -6.6%

Violence against the person: -6.2%

Robbery: -5.8%

Drug offences: -3.5%

Criminal damage/arson: -2.7%

Non-residential burglary: -1.5%

Possession of weapons: -1.5%

Residential burglary: +0.5%

Vehicle offences: +1.3%

Theft: +2.1%

Sexual offences: +2.4%

Shoplifting: +4.4%

Theft from person: +9.7%

Virgin Media O2 Business has donated over 500 mobile phones to help victims and survivors of domestic abuse or sexual assault living in East Anglia. The phones will be distributed in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk via support services.
Through a recent police contract with 7F Commercial Services*, Virgin Media O2 Business offered to donate new mobile phones to Leeway, Catch-22, and Mountain Healthcare free-of-charge as part of their social value commitment. The donated devices will enable service users of the registered support services to have access to a safe phone to contact support, emergency services, and family, if they do not have access to a phone already. This is important as, in some circumstances, mobile phones have been broken or confiscated by perpetrators.
Some of the phones will come with free SIM cards and mobile data from the National Databank – which was founded by Virgin Media O2 and the UK’s leading digital inclusion charity, Good Things Foundation. The National Databank is a like a food bank but for free data, texts and calls, helping to connect people in need.
Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore, said “Supporting victims is a key responsibility for me as Police and Crime Commissioner. We commission many services to support victims to help them cope with the immediate impact of crime, and, as far as possible, recover from the effects.
“I absolutely support this ‘social benefits’ approach. Funding is always tight and anything we can do to work with the commercial sector to access additional funding to support this work gets my full support.
“I know from speaking to victims just how devastating it is to be denied something as basic as the ability to talk to family and friends. I hope these phones provide a useful lifeline for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault to feel more secure and less isolated.
“I would like to thank Virgin Media O2 and 7F Commercial Services for embracing this innovative project, it really will make a difference to victims.”
Charlotte Hails, Head of Public Sector Vertical Strategy at Virgin Media O2 Business, said: “As a former senior police officer who specialised in Safeguarding and Public Protection, I know first-hand that mobile phones and connectivity are critical to ensuring victims and survivors are not isolated and can receive support. By partnering with local organisations in East Anglia, Virgin Media O2 Business is helping ensure victims and survivors receive the smartphones and data they need. This builds on our commitment to support police forces and communities across the UK to improve public safety and reduce crime.”
* 7F Commercial Services uses collaborative buying power for all seven police forces in the eastern region, which includes the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Kent, to obtain better value for money from their contracts.

Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner has shown his support for a month-long campaign targeting drivers who choose to commit ‘fatal four’ offences.  The campaign will run throughout the month of April.

Tim Passmore said: “I was extremely pleased to see at first-hand the work of the Roads & Armed Policing team when I spent a shift out with them earlier this week.

“The team has a pivotal role in keeping Suffolk’s roads safe and free-flowing, which is important for both residents and businesses alike, and the work they do to disrupt criminals and protect communities across Suffolk’s road network is second to none.”

“I fully support these pro-active campaigns. They send out a strong, clear message to those who choose not to comply with the ‘fatal four’ that Suffolk Constabulary is on the case.”

The campaign forms part of a national initiative  under the banner of Operation Spotlight, which will see officers focused on those using the road network for criminal gain.

Stopping a vehicle for a routine offence such as having no insurance can often lead to the discovery of other offences such as drug dealing, human trafficking and facilitating burglary and theft.

The team will be using the month to target the strategic road network with focused patrols and increased vehicle checks. Both marked and unmarked units will work in collaboration with the Sentinel Team (ANPR team) to track and apprehend criminals using the county’s roads for illegal enterprise. These tactics will aim to disrupt organised crime gangs and maintain the safety of Suffolk’s road users.

Officers will continue to highlight the dangers of the fatal four and explain the risks attached to these behaviours throughout the month, as they engage with drivers across the county. The fatal four are:

Excess speed
Using a mobile phone
Failing to wear a seatbelt
Drink and drug driving.

Inspector Gary Miller, of the Joint Norfolk & Suffolk Roads & Armed Policing Team, said: “While this campaign provides us with the opportunity to focus on all of the ‘Fatal Four’ offences which result in death or serious injury, we are placing a specific focus on criminal use of the road.”

“Criminals will use the road network to travel in and out of the county to commit crime and this campaign provides us with the perfect opportunity to impede on their activity and ultimately improve road safety.

“All ‘fatal four’ offences result in equally devastating consequences and it is our daily mission to increase awareness and reduce collisions on our roads.”

Tim Passmore, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk has published his new Police and Crime Plan, following several months of extensive consultation with the public and stakeholder groups across the county.

The newly published plan, which is the PCC’s fourth, clearly sets out his Police and Crime objectives for policing in Suffolk.

Launching the plan, Tim Passmore said “Over the next four years I will continue to focus on making Suffolk a safer place in which to live, work, travel and invest, and my Police and Crime Plan reflects this ambition.

“The plan is a high-level strategic policing document which recognises the vital Peelian principles of policing and yet is customised for our unique Suffolk requirements.  It is a public document and a key mechanism for me to hold the Chief Constable to account and ensure the broader community safety objectives are delivered

“The starting position is favourable. The latest data from the Office for National Statistics places Suffolk as having the third lowest rate of recorded crime in England and Wales. This is an excellent achievement bearing in mind the Constabulary is one of the lowest funded forces per capita and covers an enormous rural area, never mind the long and complex coastline.

“The previous three plans have helped make Suffolk a safer place in which to live, work, travel and invest. Reflecting on some achievements is necessary as the next plan builds on those changes and achievements. Evolution is normally far better than revolution.

He added, “Although it is the Police and Crime Commissioner’s plan, I am proud it is very much a team effort, involving the Constabulary, all my partners and colleagues from the voluntary and community sector.   We received nearly 200 considered responses to the plan and I would like to publicly thank everyone who participated in the consultation.  I believe we all have a part to play in making Suffolk a safe, vibrant and thriving community and I am heartened by the response that I have received.”

 

Police & Crime Plan 2025-29 (PDF, 11MB)

Performance Framework 2025-29  (PDF, 342 KB)