Lockdown crime drops - but stalking and drug cases rise
Crime in Avon and Somerset saw a big drop during lockdown.
There were 29,094 crimes recorded by police in the area between April and June this year, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics.
That was down by 19 per cent compared with the same quarter in 2019. Figures are unavailable for January to March, so it’s not possible to compare the situation prior to lockdown
The yearly decrease includes a 25 per cent fall in the number of reports of violence that caused injury and a three per cent fall in the number of violent incidents without injury.
Avon and Somerset also saw the number of serious crimes involving a knife fall during lockdown.
There were 180 such crimes (which include homicide, attempted murder, threats to kill, assaults, robbery, and rape and sexual assault) in April to June 2020, compared to 234 in April to June last year.
Overall, reports of sexual offences in Avon and Somerset were down 30 per cent compared to last year, while robberies were down 19 per cent.
However, lockdown didn’t see a drop in the number of incidents of stalking and harassment - they were up 21 per cent compared to April to June 2019, with 3,720 incidents reported.
Thefts were down, including a 53 per cent drop in shoplifting (with many stores closed), while drug crimes were up 21 per cent.
Across England and Wales, total police recorded crime decreased by four per cent to around 5.8 million offences in the year ending June 2020.
Based on just April to June figures, numbers were down 20 per cent year-on-year.
Billy Gazard, from the Office for National Statistics Centre for Crime and Justice, said: “Decreases in crime levels during the year ending June 2020 were mainly driven by changes in society after coronavirus lockdown restrictions were put in place.
“The most substantial reductions were seen in theft and robbery offences during the April to June quarter.
“There are indications that crime levels in June were moving back towards pre-lockdown levels.
“Police recording of drug offences increased sharply throughout the April to June period, reflecting proactive police activity as overall crime levels reduced. Anti-social behaviour incidents also increased.
“These include reported breaches of lockdown restrictions to the police.”
More up-to-date figures from the National Police Chiefs’ Council for the four weeks to September 27 found crime was still six per cent lower than the same period in 2019.
Serious violent crime was down 10 per cent, while shoplifting (down 26 per cent), vehicle crime (down 19 per cent) and residential burglary (down 25 per cent) are also lower than the same period in 2019.
Assaults on emergency service workers continue to show a concerning 27 per cent increase on the same period last year. Within this, assaults on police officers both with and without injury have increased by 20 per cent.
Reported rape saw a two per cent rise, and recorded domestic abuse incidents increased by three per cent over the snapshot period compared to the same period in 2019.
National Police Chiefs’ Council Chair Martin Hewitt said: “Although overall crime is lower than this time last year, demand on the police remains significant.
“As well as day-to-day policing, to prevent and tackle crime and keep communities safe, we are working alongside our partners both locally and nationally in tackling this pandemic and limiting the spread of the virus.
“Officers and staff are incredibly busy, working in challenging circumstances, and I am grateful for their continued hard work.”
Decreases in crime levels during the year ending June 2020 were mainly driven by changes in society after coronavirus lockdown restrictions .
Billy Gazard