NORWICH – The Norwich Police Department released its annual report earlier this month, summarizing the law enforcement and criminal activity in the City of Norwich.

The report is required by the city’s regulations to be made each year, and it marks in detail the activities of the department, including arrests, complaints and notes any events that require special police attention.

“It’s important for the public, who pays for our services, to know what it is they are paying for,” said Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino.

The report also includes extensive details on the types of crimes committed, the number committed and also compares them to the 2007 review. It contains all motor vehicle accidents that police responded to and what caused each.

Some police agencies have seen a rise in some of their criminal figures, prompting them to blame the souring economy for the increase in activity.

“It may be somewhat of a factor, but in my experience, honest people are usually honest and dishonest people are usually dishonest, no matter what the state of the economy,” said Angelino.

The chief did say that more stress was being felt by lower income families and that certain types of crimes seem to be “measurably” affected by financial difficulty – in particular domestic disturbances and related crimes.

“When family life stops, delinquency begins,” he said.

“But to say, ‘Oh look crime is up, must be the economy,’ is not an accurate picture of things,” he said.

The 2008 report was similar to 2007 figures, with many numbers holding steady or fluctuating only slightly.

However, one statistic that stood out was the sudden jump in family criminal offenses, which went from 4 in 2007 to 179 in 2008.