THE number of violent assaults on the streets of St Helier last month was the highest since March 2002, Home Affairs Minister Wendy Kinnard told the States yesterday.

But she added that reported crimes had fallen by 8% and that there had been no increase in the overall level of violent crime in the Island – observations which drew criticism from both the Constable of St Helier, Simon Crowcroft, and St Helier Deputy Ben Fox.

Responding to a question from Mr Crowcroft, Senator Kinnard said that there were 14 incidents of violent crime in the Island over the Christmas period, making it the most violent month for 3 1/2 years.

She added, however, that the police had charged people in all but two of these incidents Both Mr Crowcroft and Deputy Fox said that neither a reduction in the level of reported crime nor the police’s diligence in apprehending the culprits alleviated the fears Islanders had about leaving their homes at night.

Deputy Fox added that the statistics did not mean that crime levels had fallen, rather that fewer crimes had been reported.