Crime in Warwickshire is down overall but number of robberies and violent and sexual offences has risen
The number of reported crimes in Warwickshire has dropped slightly in the last 12 months – but robberies and violent and sexual offences have risen
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) published its Crime in England and Wales by Police Force Area dataset for 2023/24 on Wednesday (July 24).
Nationally, reports of crime have decreased by three per cent - in Warwickshire, this figure is closer to a decrease of five per cent.
This includes an 18 per cent reduction in knife crime across the county – a “welcome figure”, which Warwickshire Police have attributed to several operations targeting knives including Op Sceptre (knife amnesties) and Op Talkative (encouraging anonymous reporting of concerns around knife possession).
There was a 13 per cent reduction in vehicle offences – compared to the national average reduction of six per cent - and a 14 per cent reduction for offences involving criminal damage and arson compared to the national average reduction of six per cent.
But the figures also show an increase of violence with injury by three per cent and an increase of sexual offences by two per cent.
There has also been an increase in robbery of seven per cent, although the force says “this is in line with a national increase of around eight per cent across the country” and that it “still records comparatively few robberies in real terms compared to similar forces”.
There was a 13 per cent reduction in vehicle offences – compared to the national average reduction of six per cent - and a 14 per cent reduction for offences involving criminal damage and arson compared to the national average reduction of six per cent.
Warwickshire Chief Constable Debbie Tedds said: “We are happy to see that our efforts in crime reduction across the county have paid off overall, particularly for knife crime, criminal damage, and vehicle offences – I’d like to thank the officers involved for their tireless work in bringing these figures down, your efforts are bearing fruit.
“I am not complacent about those areas where we have seen an unfortunate increase, however small, and we will be redoubling our efforts to deliver the best possible service for victims, to identify offenders, and to see justice delivered.”