Crime data integrity and the way it is now recorded in West Yorkshire has had, and will continue to have, a significant impact on the recorded crime figures and West Yorkshire has recently been praised by HMIC for the approach we have taken.
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“It’s believed rises in authorities recorded sexual offences tend to be as a result of an improvement in recording from law enforcement and a rise in the willingness of victims to come forward and report to law enforcement”.
Down though are domestic burglary, by 12 per cent, crimes involving the possession of weapons, which have fallen 15 per cent, and bike thefts – down 11 per cent. The latter increase was mostly driven by a rise in gun offences in London, the ONS said.
Murders and killings in England and Wales have increased to their highest level for five years, figures show.
The number of rapes and other sex offences reported to police has increased by 36% in the last year – hitting almost 100,000 in total for the year.
Down though are drug crimes, which have fallen by more than a quarter, while burglaries and thefts from the person have also dropped.
Overall, crime reported to police last year increased by 6% over 2014 to 4.3 million offences, with the ONS attributing it to “a greater proportion of reports of crime being recorded in the last year, following improved compliance with national recording standards by police forces”. “Some of this may be down to increased confidence in the police, which I welcome, but I know the Chief Constable is also focused on the root causes of these increases and preventing crime rising further still”.
The rise in total recorded crime is the biggest year-on-year jump since 2001-2002, statistics show.
Better recording of crimes was also thought to have affected reporting of violent crimes.
According to North Yorkshire Police’s most recent performance report, the county still has the lowest crime rate per 1,000 residents for the last 12 months, with recorded anti-social behaviour and fatal road accidents both decreasing.
“The primary responsibility of any Government is the security and safety of our citizens”.
Jack Dromey, the shadow police minister of Labour, said: Today we find the greatest increase in recorded crime in a decade. “The biggest cuts to any police force in Europe is letting the British people down”.
“The Government has made reducing violence, including knife crime, a priority and continues to work closely with the police and other organisations to tackle the drivers of these crimes”.
The Office for National Statistics is clear that this rise represents developments in a willingness of victims to come as well as recording practice – this is.
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“Although the overall crime figure for this period rose by three per cent, we have continued to drive down other crime levels in key areas across South Yorkshire during a significantly challenging time in the way the force operates as we try to make significant savings”.
