90% of Muggers Getting Away With Crime


Local clear up rates for robberies one of lowest in the capital

Newly released figures have shown that muggers have a much greater chance of getting away with their crime if they commit it in Hammersmith and Fulham. The borough has the second worst clear up rate for robberies in the capital. Of the 1,224 such crimes committed in the area only 8.8% were detected.

The figures were released to parliament in the wake of the murder of Tom Ap Rhys Price in Kensal Rise. His killers were career muggers who had graduated up from petty crime to more violent offences.

There was a wide divergence in the success rates for neighbouring boroughs. Ealing was the second worst in London only marginally below Hammersmith and Fulham with 8.7%

However, Hounslow was one of the best boroughs in London with more than double the rate of clear up. There were 783 robberies of which 149 were detected. One possible reason for the higher clear up rate is the active use made of the local media. Police officers recently praised the role of BrentfordTW8.com and ChiswickW4.com along with the local newspapers in keeping residents up-to-date on crime.

Robbery Clear Up Rates 2005/6

Borough Recorded Detected Detection Rate
Kingston upon Thames
316
85
26.9%
Islington
1,307
313
23.9%
Harrow
828
178
21.5%
Hounslow
783
149
19.0%
Bexley
421
77
18.3%
Westminster
1,518
274
18.1%
Richmond upon Thames
424
74
17.5%
Merton
587
100
17.0%
Bromley
816
138
16.9%
Barking & Dagenham
695
116
16.7%
Southwark
2,791
456
16.3%
Sutton
387
62
16.0%
Haringey
1,919
281
14.6%
Brent
2,247
312
13.9%
Enfield
1,354
182
13.4%
Hackney
1,778
228
12.8%
Havering
393
50
12.7%
Redbridge
1,249
152
12.2%
Tower Hamlets
1,604
194
12.1%
Lambeth
2,759
321
11.6%
Croydon
1,711
196
11.5%
Camden
1,212
138
11.4%
Greenwich
1,145
125
10.9%
Hillingdon
784
83
10.6%
Lewisham
2,161
226
10.5%
Wandsworth
1,565
156
10.0%
Kensington & Chelsea
876
85
9.7%
Newham
2,310
222
9.6%
Barnet
1,131
108
9.5%
Waltham Forest
2273
210
9.2%
Hammersmith & Fulham
1,244
110
8.8%
Ealing
1,886
164
8.7%

 

 

December 29, 2006