West Mercia bucks national trend as latest crime figures released

The latest crime statistics, which measure recorded crime in the year up to September 2018, show the West Mercia Police have been successful in their efforts to tackle drugs with a 21 per cent fall in the number of offences from the previous year.

It ties in with considerable efforts made to bust county lines dealers, who have been targeting Shropshire as an area to expand their operations.

In Powys overall reported crime is up by four per cent, with increases in public order offences and drugs.

Across England and Wales violent crime is up by 19 per cent, but the rise was just one per cent for West Mercia and seven per cent for Dyfed Powys.

Overall the West Mercia figures paint a relatively positive picture for the force - which covers Shropshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire - with a fall in crime across the majority of offences.

They include burglary, robbery, bike theft, sexual offences and public order offences, which had have also fallen over the 12 months.

But the number of people recorded possessing weapons is up by seven per cent year on year, to 746.

• MORE: Specialist police unit to take on county lines dealers in Shropshire

• MORE: How drugs gangs are targeting the county's vulnerable

There were a total of 448 offences involving a knife in the force area over the period.

The year up to September last year saw a total of 83,518 crimes (excluding fraud) recorded across the force area, with 14 murders recorded by the police.

The numbers of theft from a person has seen a significant rise and is up by 37 per cent, with shoplifting also up seven per cent.

There were also a total of 1995 drug offences and 4,156 public order offences.

Across the 12 months there were 9,667 offences of violence with injury and 11,903 of violence without injury.

There were also 541 robberies, 7,668 burglaries, 910 instances of theft from a person.

Dyfed Powys has seen a three per cent increase in violence without injury, a two per cent rise in drug offences and a 31 per cent increase in public order crimes.

There were falls in the number of burglaries, which were down by seven per cent, violence with injury, possession of weapons, and sexual offences which fell by 13 per cent.

Reaction

The region’s crime commissioner hailed the drop in the overall number of reported offences but insisted there is no room for complacency.

West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said he was pleased to see a fall in the type of crime which has some of the biggest impacts – such a burglary and drugs.

He said: “I made a commitment to reform West Mercia Police and the latest crime figures show this approach is working.

“West Mercia is a place where people are safe and feel safe, and it is re-assuring to see a decrease in the types of crimes which affect our communities the most.

"We are not complacent, however, and there are always areas to improve. I will continue to ensure the police can continue to work efficiently and effectively to tackle these.”

A statement from Mr Campion’s office said: “Recorded crime in West Mercia is decreasing year on year. The figures show a 2.4 per cent decrease in overall crime.

“The figures from ONS also show reductions in violence with injury, drugs offences, burglary, robbery, sexual offences, public order, vehicle offences and theft.

“Conversely to the national trend, cyber crime offences have fallen in West Mercia and there are low numbers of offences involving knives and other bladed weapons.”

Mr Campion’s spokesman said there were a number of areas the force would look to focus in the coming months.

He said: “Work will continue to ensure the force is able address some of the areas where increases have been seen including offences relating to death and serious injury caused by unlawful driving, shoplifting and possession of weapons.”

Local Policing Chief Superintendent for Shropshire Kevin Purcell said he was pleased to see a drop in areas the force had targeted, and added that they would now look to build on that work.

He said: “It will be reassuring for our communities across Shropshire that our work to reduce the rate of overall recorded crime has been largely successful.

“Local policing teams have been working especially hard to target offences such as theft, violence with injury, drugs offences, burglary, robbery, sexual offences, public order and vehicle offences.

“That said, we know is that there is still much more work to be done and I am confident that we can build on the achievements of the last year in reducing offences in other areas such as shoplifting, theft from a person and violence with injury.”

He added: “It is crucial that the public have confidence both in us and our service and in reporting crimes – and while this can lead to an increase in recorded crime numbers, it is important that victims feel they can come forward.

“We are certainly not complacent about any rises in crime; at the heart of our vision and values is protecting people from harm, putting the public first and addressing the needs and demands of our communities with courage and compassion. It is these values that motivate each of us each day to serve our communities and improve or service where possible.”

A statement from Mr Campion’s office said: “Recorded crime in West Mercia is decreasing year on year. The figures show a 2.4 per cent decrease in overall crime.

“The figures from ONS also show reductions in violence with injury, drugs offences, burglary, robbery, sexual offences, public order, vehicle offences and theft.

“Conversely to the national trend, cyber crime offences have fallen in West Mercia and there are low numbers of offences involving knives and other bladed weapons.”

Mr Campion’s spokesman said there were a number of areas the force would look to focus in the coming months. He said: “Work will continue to ensure the force is able address some of the areas where increases have been seen including offences relating to death and serious injury caused by unlawful driving, shoplifting and possession of weapons.”

Local Policing Chief Superintendent for Shropshire Kevin Purcell said he was pleased to see a drop in areas the force had targeted, and added that they would now look to build on that work.

He said: “It will be reassuring for our communities across Shropshire that our work to reduce the rate of overall recorded crime has been largely successful.

“Local policing teams have been working especially hard to target offences such as theft, violence with injury, drugs offences, burglary, robbery, sexual offences, public order and vehicle offences.

“That said, we know is that there is still much more work to be done and I am confident that we can build on the achievements of the last year in reducing offences in other areas such as shoplifting, theft from a person and violence with injury.”

He added: “It is crucial that the public have confidence both in us and our service and in reporting crimes – and while this can lead to an increase in recorded crime numbers, it is important that victims feel they can come forward.

“We are certainly not complacent about any rises in crime; at the heart of our vision and values is protecting people from harm, putting the public first and addressing the needs and demands of our communities with courage and compassion. It is these values that motivate each of us each day to serve our communities and improve or service where possible.”