CRIME in Weston’s South Ward is falling year on year, according to figures given to the Mercury by police.

The total number of crimes in the area, which includes the Bournville, Potteries, Oldmixon and Coronation estates, fell from 779 to 708 for 2011 to date – a drop of 9.1 per cent on the same time in 2010.

The figures, which are only provisional, show burglary has decreased by 19.6 per cent and robbery is down 50 per cent, with the number of cases dropping from six to three.

Drug offences were up 35.5 per cent, but officers say this is due to an increase in warrants and a continued police clampdown on drug factories in the area, as shown by the increase in detection rate of 3.4 per cent.

Fraud forgery is up 60 per cent, fuelled by a rise in fake �20 notes.

Assault is up by 0.6 per cent, but theft is down by 16.7 per cent and car theft figures have dropped by 28.6 per cent.

Detection rates for fraud are up 27.5 per cent and 7.9 per cent for burglary of residential homes.

Sergeant Colin Batchelor said: “We are making good progress in relation to the detection of crimes and working closely with the community has enabled us to achieve some good results.”