Ipswich has seen the fifth biggest decrease in the whole of the UK in relation to robbery crimes over a three-year period.

The Office for National Statistics released figures relating to the number of crimes committed in each Community Safety Partnership area. 

The town's policing commander said officers had been working to create a "hostile environment" for criminals to operate. 

Ipswich saw the fifth biggest decline in robbery offences in the UK between 2019 and 2022, with 286 offences in 2019, compared to 139 in 2022, leaving a 51.40% decline.

Oxford, East Riding in Yorkshire, Ashford and South Ribble were above Ipswich in the figures with a larger drop for robbery. 

In terms of theft offences, of all kinds, 6,049 offences were recorded in 2019 compared to 4,003 in 2022 in Ipswich, making it the seventh-largest drop in the UK.

This saw a 33.82% decrease in offences between the three years.

Ipswich Star: Superintendent Andy Martin.Superintendent Andy Martin. (Image: Suffolk police)

Superintendent Andy Martin, policing commander for Ipswich, said: "We work closely with other agencies and partners on a number of bespoke operations focusing on crime that most impacts Ipswich, creating a hostile environment for criminality to operate and developing opportunities to divert and rehabilitate those likely to offend.

"Theft and robbery are just two areas of focus and continue to be an ongoing priority for policing in the town as we diversify our tactics to make Ipswich a safer place.

"These crime types are often linked to other types of offending such as drug supply and serious violence and this positive reduction is indicative of our continued pursuit of offenders connected to high-harm offending.

"Whilst crime types will fluctuate in response to national pressures and deprivation, our joint approach to identify the root cause of criminality has been key in addressing the symptoms."