CRIME in Cowley Marsh has dropped by 10 per cent – but the proportion of crimes being solved has also dropped to less than one in 10.

The area, which centres on Marsh Park, saw a fall in public order offences, criminal damage, assault and burglaries.

The number of crimes recorded fell from 279 from April 2010 to April 2011 to 251 the following year.

But just 23 were detected – 9.2 per cent of all crimes.

Oxford city and Oxfordshire county councillor Saj Malik said: “The Pcso’s in particularly are doing a great job. Cowley policing has improved a lot and neighbourhood policing has stepped up a gear, but there is always room for improvement.”

He said his own observations indicated that Marsh Park continued to be used by prostitutes, but the number of streetworkers had dropped from up to 10 a few years ago to one.

Mr Malik said: “It is a concern about the detection rates. We need to find a balance but I think those rates will improve.”

Theft from a vehicle rose 333 per cent from three offences to 13 and there was also a jump in harassment cases from three to 10.

Criminal damage dropped from 60 to 46 cases.

About 5,000 people live in the area.

Supt Chris Sharp said the rise in thefts from a vehicle followed an exceptionally low figure last year.

He said: “A problem we do have is that theft from pedal cycles, such as the saddle, is counted as a theft from a vehicle.

“This type of theft accounts for seven per cent of all thefts from vehicles.”

He said there were a number for the decreases in assaults, criminal damage and public order.

Supt Sharp added: “Much of this is better partnership working with Canact (the antisocial behaviour body run by Oxford City Council ).

“We also hold weekly violent crime meetings to ensure a review of problem areas and task resources to eliminate the issues where possible.”

Staff at Parchments of Oxford, in Crescent Road, were keen to see more officers on the beat, after a bike was stolen from outside the premises and a bag taken from under a table inside the printers.

Sales manager David Fowles said: “We have had a few incidents and we have started bringing bikes in just in case.”

But he added: “The Temple Cowley area seems a safer environment than the Cowley Road.”

Martin Smith, owner of Tyre Ryte, in Marsh Road, said crime was not a major issue.

He said: “Years ago, there were a lot of break-ins but we haven’t had anything like that for a long time, and police are always in and out of the park making an effort to show their presence.”