Crime figures Sharp rise in violent offences… but recording method a factor
THE number of violent and sexual offences reported to police in Gloucestershire has increased almost 70 per cent year-on-year, figures show.
In August 2018, there were 911 reports made, compared with 1,533 in August this year – the latest statistics available. That is a 68 per cent rise for the same period 12 months apart.
Violent and sexual offences, for data purposes at least, are recorded under the same bracket.
Public order offences also saw a significant rise, from 123 in August 2018 to 423 this August.
But, police said, the big spike in numbers could mainly be explained by a new emphasis on how they record different offences, after a scathing audit of that area of its work earlier this year.
In July, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services rated the force’s crime recording arrangements ‘inadequate’ and found almost 8,000 crimes per year were not being properly logged.
The force has since worked to improve its recording of various types of offence.
A Gloucestershire Constabulary spokesman said: “The rise in violence offences in August was split across the county and our work to improve crime recording following our recent HMICFRS inspection is the most significant factor behind this increase.
“In particular, we are recording a higher number of non-injury assault offences and this will have affected both the overall violence figure and the public order numbers.
“Considerable resources and training for staff has been put in place and this is now equating to an increase in the statistics.
“Additionally, August was a fiveweekend month this year compared to the same month in 2018 and with most violence taking place on Friday and Saturday night this is likely to have played a role in the increase.”
Elsewhere, there has been a decline in the amount of antisocial behaviour, vehicle crime, burglary, bicycle theft and possession of weapons reported to police, but rises in reports of criminal damage and arson, other theft, shoplifting, drugs, other crime, theft from the person, and robbery.
The total number of reports made in August this year was 5,738. That compares with 5,067 for the same month in 2018.
Our work to improve crime recording following our recent HMICFRS inspection is the most significant factor behind this increase
Police spokesman
How reports made in August 2019 compare with August 2018
» Antisocial behaviour – 1,692 reports (down from 1,948 in August 2018)
» Violence and sexual offences – 1,533 (up from 911)
» Criminal damage and arson – 446 (up from 404)
» Other theft – 426 (up from 389)
» Public order – 423 (up from 123)
» Shoplifting – 298 (up from 283)
» Vehicle crime – 295 (down from 323)
» Burglary – 273 (down from 370) » Drugs – 109 (up from 74)
» Other crime – 76 (up from 27) » Bicycle theft – 64 (down from 112)
» Theft from the person – 39 (up from 35)
» Robbery – 36 (up from 29)
» Possession of weapons – 28 (down from 29)
» Total – 5,738 (up from 5,067)