Crime on rise in Cheshire
ABIGAIL DONOGHUE
LATEST figures released by the Office Of National Statistics show that crime is continuing to rise in Cheshire.
Cheshire forces have seen an increase of 28% (27.8) in overall crime between July 2017 and June 2018. The total number of crimes has risen by 19,887, the highest increase in the North West.
Year on year, overall crime in Halton is 31.4% more than Cheshire as a whole. Violent crime with injury is up year on year by 34%, sexual offences by 49.4% and robbery by 34.9% in Halton.
However, Acting Deputy Chief Constable Darren Martland has said Cheshire residents can be reassured Cheshire is a safe place to live.
He said: “While it may appear to be concerning that reported crime has increased in Cheshire, it’s important this is put into context.
“One of the main reasons behind it is due to improved crime recording processes which were brought in to ensure that victims of crime receive the service they deserve.
“Just last week these changes were recognised nationally when Cheshire became the first force to be rated as outstanding for our crime recording processes.”
Many changes have taken place to improve recording processes, including incidents that would have previously been recorded as anti- social behaviour, are now recorded as disorder in a public area.
These changes are most notable in crimes such as public order offences and violent offences, which rose by a total of 15,028 over the one-year period.
Acting DCC Martland also said: “We have also continued to see an increase in the number of reported sex offences. Much of this increase can be attributed to a rise in the reporting of non-recent sexual offences as confidence increases among those who have not felt they can report the abuse previously.”
The constabulary has seen an increase of 33% in possession of weapons, such as knives. Weapon possession in Halton is up by 42.4%.
The force has recently launched an initiative to tackle this problem ● using intelligence to focus on individuals who think it is acceptable to carry a knife in public.
Officers are also working with residents, partners in the community, local businesses and schools to reduce the number of knives on streets and regularly sweeping the streets for weapons.
The Office For National Statistics have also said in the report: ‘An increase in the number of crimes recorded by the police does not necessarily mean the level of crime has increased.
“Police recorded crime statistics can be affected by changes in policing activity and recording practice and by willingness of victims to report.’
Acting DCC Martland added: “Despite the increase I would like to reassure residents that Cheshire is a safe place to live and we are committed to doing all we can to reduce crime and bring those responsible to justice.
“In the last three months alone our officers have seized more than £20 million worth of Class A drugs which may have been destined for the streets of Cheshire and charged a number of people, suspected to be members of organised crime groups, with numerous serious offences.
“Our officers and staff are committed to working together with our partners and colleagues in the Special Constabulary in order to prevent crime, support victims and protect vulnerable people.”
Victims of crime in Cheshire are encouraged to report it to Cheshire police online at https://cheshire. police.uk/contact/general-enquiries or via 101. Information can also be reported anonymously, on Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.