Crime rise is 'due to success' as West Mercia records five per cent hike - The Redditch Standard

Crime rise is 'due to success' as West Mercia records five per cent hike

Redditch Editorial 21st May, 2018   0

OVERALL crime in West Mercia has risen by five per cent, according to new figures covering April 2017 to March 2018.

However the figures have been welcomed by Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion as they show that compared with the rest of the county, crime is only increasing at a third of a rate of the national levels.

In South Worcestershire overall crime fell by around two per cent with burglary down 14 per cent, vehicle crime eight per cent, shoplifting by three per cent and rap by one per cent.

In North Worcestershire, which covers Redditch, there has been a 24 per cent decrease in robbery and an eight per cent decrease in violence with injury.




Overall West Mercia, which also covers Herefordshire and Shropshire, has seen a slight increase in robbery of five per cent compared to a national increase of 30 per cent.

Officers say local policing teams in North Worcestershire have been working especially hard targeting offences such as burglary and this targeted approach has seen some positive results.


PCC Campion said: “These figures are good news for our communities who want to be safe and feel safe. I am reassured by the rise in public confidence and by the successes across multiple crime types.”

Deputy Chief Constable and former Redditch beat bobby Amanda Blakeman said: “We are also seeing the public feel more confident in reporting crimes and while this can lead to an increase in overall recorded crime numbers, it is important that victims feel they can come forward, and are indeed encouraged to.

“We are not complacent about any crime rises and we will continue to do everything we can to reduce and tackle crime.

“The wider message is a positive one: overall recorded crime increases in West Mercia are well below those seen nationally, and the implementation of our new policing model will continue allow us to direct and target our resources into the areas of most demand.”

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