ISLANDERS feel more safe in their community this year, compared to last year, a new survey has revealed.

The Community Safety Partnership (CSP) — which is made up of organisations including the council, police, fire service and probation trust — said 86 per cent of Islanders feel safe in their community, up by 0.6 per cent compared to the 2018 survey.

Of the 14 per cent who said they felt unsafe in their local area, the top three concerns were anti-social behaviour (53 per cent), drugs and alcohol (41 per cent) and speeding cars (53 per cent).

These concerns were the same as last year's.

More than 80 per cent of survey respondents had not been a victim of crime in the past 12 months.

Amanda Gregory, chair of the Isle of Wight Community Safety Partnership said: "These preliminary survey results are positive, in that residents see the Island, on the whole as a safe place to live. "The survey results help us to focus our priorities for the coming year and will form a key part of the CSP strategic assessment, which is due out later this year."

The full survey results will not be available until July.

There will be a presentation on the survey findings and an opportunity to ask questions at the next public CSP meeting on July 3, at 5pm in the Riverside Centre, Newport.

You can also submit questions in advance to: community.safety@iow.gov.uk.