TARGETED policing has been cited as the reason for making Slough safer than Oxford, Reading and Milton Keynes.

Figures from July to September show all crime has fallen in Slough to 16.07 crimes per 1,000 population.

The town also comes top when compared with similar boroughs across the country, including Luton, Croydon and Plymouth.

There has been a 6% reduction in the last quarter, but Slough is still ranked second, behind Reading, as highest for violent crime in the Thames Valley.

Supt Simon Bowden, commander of Slough police area, said: “The reduction of crime is a key objective of policing in Slough, along with solving more crimes, bringing offenders to justice and taking the fear of crime to the door of those who commit it.

“While these latest part-year figures are encouraging, every victim of crime is a victim too many.” Domestic burglary remains high in the town.

Ruth Bagley, chief executive of Slough Borough Council and chair of the Safer Slough Partnership, added: “Slough has been safer than Oxford for two years, safer than Reading for much of the past year and now I’m delighted to say, was safer than Milton Keynes for the first time this summer.

“Figures can of course be interpreted in different ways and are only part of the picture, because high reporting can also reflect confidence in the criminal justice system. But broadly speaking they show encouraging signs that Slough is continually becoming a safer place to live, work and visit.

A lot of work goes into identifying crime hotspots and ensuring our time and precious policing resources are used for maximum effect in those areas, which often means patrolling those areas proactively and preventing crime.”