Operation Rye Safe sees 73% fall in crime

The Wycombe Community Safety Partnership launched an operation to keep residents safe across Wycombe town centre during the May half-term holiday and as a result saw a 73.9 per cent fall in crime.

Operation Rye Safe ran between Saturday 29 May and Sunday 6 June and despite its name, the operation was also aimed at reducing crime in Desborough Road, the area around the bus station as well as on The Rye.

Officers decided to run the operation after analysis showed the school holidays to be a time of higher risk of robbery across Wycombe Local Police Area (LPA).

Officers from the Mounted Section joined officers and Police Community Support Officers on foot to patrol the hotspot areas and representatives from the Community Safety Partnership were on The Rye talking to people and gave advice and information.

During the operation, no crime was reported on the Rye and in Totteridge South crime was significantly lower compared to the same period last year with only six crimes reported. In comparison there were 23 crimes reported for the same period last year and crime overall is down 73.9 per cent.

During the operation a marquee was set up were people could go and get their property security marked, focussing on bicycles and electronic goods such as mobile phones and iPods. In total 85 items were security marked by officers which will protect the goods from being stolen and can be traced back to the owner if they are lost or stolen and recovered.