Recorded crime in Cheshire falls 2.2% whilst violence against people rises 16%

simonbyrne

Official crime statistics for Cheshire have been released, and show a further fall in overall recorded crime for the year to 31st March 2016.

The figures released by the Office of National Statistics have shown an overall reduction in recorded crime of 2.2% in Cheshire, which equates to nearly 1,300 fewer victims of crime.

The latest reduction in recorded crime figures makes this the tenth consecutive year of falling recorded crime figures in the county – with Cheshire one of only four areas in England and Wales where crime figures continue to fall.

The statistics show a large fall of 17.2% in vehicle crime along with a 16% reduction in burglaries.

One area where crime has seen an increase is violence against the person which has risen 16%. This includes a wide range of crimes such as modern slavery, serious assaults, death by dangerous driving, attempted murder and stalking and harassment.

Speaking about the figures, Chief Constable Simon Byrne said: "Overall, it is welcome news that the statistics indicate a continuing fall in many crime areas. I believe it reflects positively the work of officers and staff, working with our partners, to protect our communities.

"Many of the crimes that worry our residents have seen falls – like burglary and car crime. And while violence against the person has increased, it's important to put this into context, and to highlight the work the force is doing, alongside local councils, to make our towns and villages safer, especially in the evenings.

"We're taking firm action against those bars and clubs that aren't keeping our young people safe, as has been seen recently by the work we've done to close premises in Chester and Warrington where we've identified problems. We will continue to work actively to hold businesses to account that we believe aren't adequately protecting their customers."

Police & Crime Commissioner David Keane said: "Any reduction in crime statistics is to be welcomed – and particularly in areas like burglary and vehicle crime. It's a credit to the hard work of officers and staff which I've seen first hand over the last two months.

"This has been reflected in what the public are telling me as I travel the county listening to residents as I develop Cheshire's new Police & Crime Plan.

"But I've also heard their concerns about the night-time economy in some of our towns. I want to see more being done to further tackle public disorder, drug and alcohol abuse, which can make people wary about visiting our town centres in the evening. I've spoken to the Chief Constable about this, and I will also be challenging my colleagues in local government, on licensing committees, and elsewhere to play their part in helping us to tackle this issue."

As well as reductions in overall recorded crime, the force's own information has shown a significant improvement in solved rates for key crimes. Among these more than half (51%) of domestic violence with injury are detected, while over 35% of sexual offences (including 30% of rape offences) were solved last year – the highest rate for four years.

Meanwhile, according to figures from the Criminal Prosecution Service (CPS) convictions have increased at both magistrate and crown courts, at a level of 91% and 85% respectively - meaning the Cheshire/Merseyside CPS area now has the highest conviction rate in the country as of 31st March 2016.

Photo: Cheshire's Chief Constable, Simon Byrne.

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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Terry Roeves
Wednesday 27th July 2016 at 12:57 pm
An overall reduction in recorded crime of 2.2%.......does that include cyber and phone crime?
Pete Taylor
Wednesday 27th July 2016 at 1:13 pm
@ Terry- one would suspect not! http://bit.ly/29NHLvn

There still is the reported vs recorded conundrum too.