Report reveals huge increase in crime rates across West Midlands
WEST Midlands Police is experiencing a massive increase in demand for its services, thanks to soaring crime rates and 999 calls.
The increase was highlighted in a paper drawn up by Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson as West Midland MPs prepared to meet Police Minister Nick Hurd to call for more funding.
Comparing the last 12 months (November 2016 to October 2017) with the same period a year previously shows:
Emergency (999) calls for service up by 12 per cent, increasing from 629,500 to 705,500
Total recorded crime up by 14 per cent, increasing from 197,000 to 224,000
And crimes that are particularly complex and resource intensive to investigate are increasing:
Violence with injury was up by six per cent, from 24,500 cases to 26,000;
Sexual offences up 25 per cent from 4,500 to 6,000;
Domestic violence up cent from 22,000 to 24,000;
Child sexual exploitation up 8 per 47 per cent from 260 to 380;
Modern slavery up 135 cent from 140 to 330;
Gun crime up 15 per cent from 580 to 660. per
According to the paper, prepared for MPs and seen by the
some of the increase has come because victims are now more confident about reporting crimes. But it still adds up to increased demand for West Midlands Police.
The force also faces pressure due to the threat of terrorism.
While it has a £45 million ringfenced grant to fund the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, it has also been forced to spend £1 million on overtime for ordinary police officers since April this year.
But the central government grant for West Midlands Police has fallen by £145 million since 2010, and the number of police officers has been cut by 2,000.
A group of West Midlands MPs will meet the Police Minister, Mr Hurd, to set out the case for increased funding for West Midlands Police.
Ahead of the meeting, Jack Dromey, Labour MP for Erdington, said: “It is increasingly difficult for the police to do their job of keeping the people of the West Midlands safe. This meeting is vital for us to call for the government to increase funding for the Police Service.”
It is increasingly difficult for the police to do their job of keeping the people of the West Midlands safe Jack Dromey, Labour MP for Erdington