Official figures from Burnham-On-Sea Police show crime in the town has increased significantly during the past year, although November showed a slight decline.
The graph above clearly demonstrates how monthly crime figures throughout 2006 have been consistently higher than the same months in 2005.
In the Burnham-On-Sea sector this year, there have been 197 more cases of criminal damage – totalling 514 – while cases of actual bodily harm have increased to 166, up 41 cases on this time last year.
The figures show that the height of the summer tourist season was the worst time for crime in Burnham. Around 380 offences were reported during August 2006, up from almost 200 during the same month in 2005.
But since then, more PCSOs have been put on the beat in the town and during November, the crime figures fell from the same period in 2005 – as shown on the graph above.
Sector Deputy Sgt Roger Tolley believes a group of troublemakers has been behind the overall increase in crime figures during the year.
“A very small number of people are responsible for this impact on crime figures,” he said this week, adding that officers will be working overtime to target criminal damage in Burnham during the next month.
