Crime rise sparks concern for police
TRANSPORT: The largest annual rise in crime recorded by police in a decade, coupled with a fall in officer numbers to the lowest in more than 30 years, has sparked concern among chiefs and the rank and file.
What more of a wake-up call does the Government need? Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation.
THE LARGEST annual rise in crime recorded by police in a decade, coupled with a fall in officer numbers to the lowest in more than 30 years, has sparked concern among chiefs and the rank and file.
Soaring levels of violence and theft, as well a rise in sex crimes, are behind a 10 per cent year-on-year rise over the 12-month period to March, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
Home Office data shows there were 123,142 officers across all ranks in England and Wales at the end of March this year, which the report said was thought to be the lowest number since 1985.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said it was evidence “crime is changing”, while the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) said the service was “struggling to keep pace”.
Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott, who made police numbers a core plank of the election campaign, said the figures were a “damning indictment” of the Conservative Government but Downing Street said another measure, the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW), was “more reliable”.
Police recorded nearly five million offences in England and Wales over the period, 458,021 more than the same period last year.
The ONS said the surge was partly driven by a rise in violence against the person, which soared 18 per cent to 175,060 offences.
A long-term decline in the rate of theft was also reversed, rising seven per cent to 118,774, while public order offences jumped 39 per cent to 78,697.
Sexual offences rose 14 per cent to the highest level since new recording standards were introduced in 2002, although the year-on-year rate of increase slowed.
NPCC lead for criminal justice, Chief Constable Simon Byrne, said: “The 10 per cent rise in police recorded crime causes us concern, particularly when the number of police officers is at its lowest since 1985.
“It demonstrates how crime is changing, with hidden crimes coming to the fore, old crimes are being committed in new ways and truly new crimes emerging.
“There are genuine rises in a range of crimes like theft, knife crime and some types of violent crime including homicide, and high numbers of people targeted by fraud and cyber offences.”
And Steve White, PFEW chairman, said: “What more of a wakeup call does the Government need?
“Officer numbers are dropping consistently every year yet our members are having to deal with not only more crimes, but the most unimaginable atrocities such as those in Westminster, Manchester and London Bridge.” He called for more investment, adding: “These figures demonstrate that this has not happened.”
John Flatley, of the ONS, said that while police recording had improved, he believed the figures represented “actual increases” in crime.
Policing and Fire Minister Nick Hurd said: “We recognise that crime is changing and we are determined to get ahead of new and emerging threats to the safety and security of our families and communities.”
Rachel Almeida, Victim Support’s head of policy, said the rising figures are “a great cause for concern, especially given the increase in recorded violent crimes, threatening behaviour and theft”.