RECORDED crime across West Mercia increased by 13 per cent in the last year with sharp rises in sexual offences and domestic burglary, new figures have revealed.
Statistics released today (Thursday) showed crime – excluding fraud – had gone up from 75,663 to 85,433 incidents in the year ending September 2017.
Notable increases across the region included domestic burglary which spiked by almost 55 per cent with 4,477 recorded incidents while sexual offences had risen by 23 per cent with 3,507 incidents reported.
Public order and possession of weapon offences were also up by 32.1 and 18.5 per cent respectively.
West Mercia Police also recorded a 15.9 per cent increase in violence towards another person and a 14.8 per cent rise in vehicle crime.
Theft as a whole increased by 9.4 per cent.
Other offences which had an increase included: robbery, up 9.5 per cent, non-domestic burglary, up by 23.6 per cent, bicycle theft, up by 17.6 per cent, shoplifting, up by five per cent, criminal damage and arson, up by 8.2 per cent.
Drug offences and theft from a person were down by 2.8 and 3.4 per cent respectively.
Nationally, crime across England and Wales went up by 15 per cent.
West Mercia’s Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said whilst he was reassured to see recorded crime was on the increase as it showed the improved confidence people had in the force, he stressed there was much more to do to improve the service.
“Through my ongoing work around reform, the police are in a better position to respond to demand and address the needs of the public,” he said.
“This will continue as I build on what has already been achieved through further investments in technology, closer partnership working such as the proposed changes around fire governance and through grant investments to further understand and tackle the root causes of crime.”
He added West Mercia Police was working ‘efficiently and effectively’ to tackle existing and emerging demand to protect communities.
“I will continue to invest to make West Mercia Police more efficient, and therefore more effective.”
