SERIOUS violence across Hounslow has fallen by nearly a fifth in the last year, according to the latest annual crime statistics.
However, residential burglary is up almost 13 per cent, figures published by the Met Police last week reveal.
Overall crime during 2009/10 was down three per cent from the previous year, with a total of 23,143 offences reported across the borough.
That was slightly better than the London-wide reduction of just under two per cent, with murders in the capital down from 155 to 117.
Violence against the person in Hounslow, which ranges from spitting on someone to GBH with intent, rose slightly to 5,604 offences last year from 5,547 in 2008/9.
But serious violence, which includes offences like GBH and attempted murder, was down by almost 18 per cent, from 300 to 247 incidents.
Superintendent Paul Martin, of Hounslow police, said he was proud of the efforts by officers to 'engage' young people, often working with the council and schools.
"This is reflected in our serious youth violence figures, which are showing a 29 per cent reduction," he said.
"Local public confidence has improved in all areas, with 90 per cent of those polled stating 'police are doing a good job'. Hounslow continues to face challenges around burglary, which is reflected across the whole of the Met.
"However, we are continuing to do a considerable amount of work in this area, which has resulted in a reduction in burglary over the last four weeks."
There were no murders in Hounslow during 2009/10, compared with four the previous year, and gun crime fell from 73 incidents to 50 during the same period. Reports of racist and homophobic offences were also down slightly. However, residential burglary rose sharply from 1,771 to
1,999. Speaking to the Chronicle earlier this year, chief superintendent
David Bilson called for tougher sentences from judges to keep burglars off the streets.
