PEOPLE strolling along outside the shops in Summertown say they feel perfectly safe in their neighbourhood.

And the latest statistics confirm they are unlikely to be mugged or attacked.

Serious violent crime in this police area is down 33.3 per cent year on year, while assault without injury is down 56 per cent, and assault with less serious injury is down 16.7 per cent. But low-level crime is still taking place and, overall, the total number of crimes is up 7.8 per cent. Shoplifting remains a concern for traders, and a Shopwatch-style scheme to help shopkeepers communicate with a radio link is planned.

Sandra Woodruff, manager of the Helen and Douglas House hospice charity shop in Banbury Road, and its neighbouring vintage shop, is backing the scheme. She said: “There was an attempted break-in at the vintage shop in May, which cost us about £500 and two days’ trading, and at the same time the thieves tried to break in to our shop. Then there was a further attempted break-in at the main charity shop last month.

“The shop fronts are being improved and we are introducing new security measures to make the shops more secure as part of this. “The police have been very helpful and came to carry out forensic tests when we contacted them, but so far there have not been any arrests. “Summertown has a lovely village atmosphere and it’s a great place to trade, so it can come as a surprise that these criminals are there.”

The number of incidents of shoplifting has fallen in the past year by 27.8 per cent, but Summertown city councillor Jean Fooks said incidents are still taking place. She said: “Only the other day I saw police with a man flat on the pavement outside M&S. I found out later it had been a shoplifting incident. “And recently a lady living in North Oxford left her handbag on the front passenger seat of her car.

“When she came back she found a thief had taken it because one of the windows was left open. “When I visit people’s homes, I’m surprised by how many residents have left windows open. They need to take police advice and take sensible security precautions.” In this month’s neighbourhood update, PC Amanda Kerman said: “The initial stages of the Summertown Retail Crime Partnership (SRCP) is well under way and a number of key businesses have shown an interest. SRCP would increase the opportunity to identify potential offenders and circulate intelligence. “Recently there has been a spate of fake £50 notes in the area.”

  • Constantly updated crime statistics at street-by-street level are available at oxfordmail.co.uk/li