I was concerned on checking police.co.uk that it said there had been 3 violent crimes "in or near" my street in December.

I emailed the safer neighbourhoods team to ask whether this was something unprovoked, potentially repetitive and about which I should be concerned.

I had an email back within the hour setting out the very broad range of offenses that violent crime covers and that whatever the incidents were they should not be of any additional concern to people living in the area. Obviously bearing in mind the need to be careful as normal.

They are very efficient at providing information then.