For Immediate Release		February 1, 2010

Crime Rate Drops in Hampton over the Past 5 Years

The Hampton Police Division is pleased to report that crime has gone down in the city over the past 5 years. The statistics reflect a -18% drop in Violent Crime from 2005 to 2009 and Part 1 Crimes (major crime) are down-3. Additionally, overall crime in the city has also been reduced over the past 5 years and we are committed to continuing that trend into 2010. We feel that it is significant to note that Hampton's crime rate per thousand people is one of the lowest in the Hampton Roads region. We have worked diligently to identify those persons or elements in our community who live through a pattern of criminal behavior. The police division has utilized a number of innovative crime prevention and crime suppression techniques to address these issues. We have joined forces with the law enforcement agencies of other local jurisdictions and with state and federal agencies. However, the reduction in the crime rate is most reflective in the, day to day, hard work of the members of the police division and the support of the citizens as we collectively make our city a safer place to live, work, play.

We continue to make crime prevention a high priority in our overall policing strategy. Our newly implemented CitizenObserver Notification System is an alerting system that allows us to deliver important public safety information either neighborhood specific or city-wide using common communications methods such as cell phone text messages, emails, or thru an online website. The police division recognizes the importance of maintaining open lines of communication with our citizens and partnering with them as we all take a stand against those who would jeopardize our sense of community peace by violating the laws of the commonwealth. We are confident that we will continue to have positive results in our fight against crime thanks to the importance we place on being responsive to our citizens and as we share critical information in a timely manner.

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Corporal Paula Scheck will receive questions about this release at 757-727-6638