IT SEEMS

THE FRIENDLY CITY HAS GOTTEN A LITTLE 'FRIENDLIER'.

LATEST STATISTICS SHOW BELLEVILLE'S

CRIME RATE WAS DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY FROM 2010 TO 2011.

BELLEVILLE HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN MACLEAN'S MAGAZINE'S MOST DANGEROUS CITY LISTINGS IN 2010.

NEWSWATCH'S PAUL SOUCY HAS MORE.

THE LIST OF

CANADA'S MOST DANGEROUS CITIES IS

SOMETHING NO MUNICIPALITY WANTS TO BE ON.

BELLEVILLE--WHICH MADE THE NATIONAL LIST IN 2010 IS NOW SEEING A

DROP IN CRIME STATS.

Cory McMullan -- Chief of Police:

"Absolutely, any decrease in the crime rate and the crime severity index is a positive for our community and enhances the safety of all of our citizens."

IN 2011

CRIME IN BELLEVILLE WAS REDUCED BY 13 HUNDRED COMPARED TO

THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THE NUMBERS COME FROM STATS CAN.

Jack Miller -- City Councilor

"More calls are being placed to the police department, and as a result it's probably acting - as much as anything - as a deterrent. Our Police Department do a very very good job within our community."

BUT DO THE RESIDENTS OF BELLEVILLE

FEEL SAFER?

 STREET TALK:

"I have to say that living in Belleville is a much nicer place, less crime, and people are more laid back."

"But I still notice the odd issue - property damage seems to be on the rise and everything. It's not nearly as bad as it was a couple years ago - but I still get the feeling it could be a lot better."

Paul Soucy:

"While the number of offences has gone down in areas such has break and enters and car thefts - there is one category of in Belleville that has actually gone up."

Cory McMullan -- Chief of Police

"We have had an increase in sexual assaults reported - but we've been very proactive in encouraging and promoting individuals to report sexual assaults."

- BELLEVILLE POLICE WILL BE WORKING WITH A NUMBER OF SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AGENCIES TO

INCREASE AWARENESS AND POLICE PRESENCE.

THEIR HOPE IS TO SEE A DROP IN SEXUAL ASSAULTS BY NEXT YEAR.

PAUL SOUCY. CKWS NEWSWATCH - BELLEVILLE.