POLICE hope a spate of burglaries in Kidlington have been brought under control following arrests.

Superintendent Emma Garside, Thames Valley Police’s commander for the Cherwell and West Oxfordshire area, cited organised crime when discussing the issue as part of a presentation to Cherwell District Council. 

“We have got an organised crime group operating across Kidlington at the moment,” she said. 

“Those of you responsible for Kidlington will be aware of a significant increase in burglaries in Kidlington.

“We have made some arrests so we are hoping that will stem the flow of those offences in Kidlington but it is an example of the seriousness of some of the things which happen here.”

The matter was raised during an overview of crime statistics in Cherwell. 

Superintendent Garside noted that all crime was 30 per cent up year-on-year, a figure somewhat skewed by the lessening of Covid-19 restrictions as time has gone on.

However, serious violence was down 25 per cent, residential burglaries were down 36 per cent overall on the five-year average and personal robbery was down 33 per cent on the five-year average. 

“The reduction in burglaries could well be linked with the pandemic and a lot of people working from home but note that figure is against a five-year average,” added Superintendent Garside. 

“That is a sustained reduction in burglaries.”

There was a four per cent reduction in domestic abuse cases involving injury but the commander stated that numbers in this area do not always paint the full picture.

“That is an area where we would welcome an increase in the reporting of crime,” said Superintendent Garside. 

“We have the second highest number of domestic abuse reports across the force, we are second only to Milton Keynes, so we do have high volumes. 

“There are very specific targets for my staff around how quickly we get to those jobs, what we do with the perpetrator when we get there, making an early arrest to maximise our chances of a successful outcome for that victim. Our real focus on domestic abuse will continue.”