Vandalism increase of almost one-third is ‘concerning’

Campbell Thomson - top police post
Campbell Thomson – crime down but vandalism shows a marked increase

VANDALISM IS INCREASING but police in Moray insist the region is still one of the safest in which to live – with crime figures falling to their lowest ever figures.

Statistics published at the end of last week for the period from April to September show a marked fall in the number of crimes in Moray compared to the same period in 2014.

That has caused senior officers to be “greatly encouraged” – in particular with figures for those seriously or fatally injured on Moray’s roads, which saw a fall of almost one-third.

Meanwhile there has also been a 17% fall in the number of housebreakings while instances of theft have gone down by 18%.

“Housebreakings have a significant impact on individuals so it is important for everyone to work together to prevent such criminality,” Chief Superintendent Campbell Thomson said, adding: “Simple preventative steps make it difficult for thieves.

“We will continue to work hard to prevent crime in communities by promoting such crime reduction messages.

“I am also pleased that the number of people killed or seriously injured has reduced during the period – however, we must never be complacent.”

The increase in cases of vandalism is a worry for all communities in Moray, with the figures revealing an increase of 32% – a statistic Chief Superintendent Thomson said was “disappointing”.

He added: Vandalism is a crime that has such a negative impact on communities, so officers throughout Moray will continue to focus on investigating and detecting incidents.”