Lockdown leads to big drop in crime – although drug offences are up
Crime has fallen sharply in West Mercia during the pandemic – but police have experienced a rise in Covid-related offences.
Nearly all types of offences for the 12 months up to September 2020 dropped, when compared to the previous year, according to new figures.
Overall crime fell by nine per cent as people were forced to stay indoors for three months from March.
Robbery fell 12 per cent, theft 24 per cent and burglary was 22 per cent lower.
Sexual offences fell by seven per cent, while vehicle crimes were down 27 per cent, and criminal damage and arson dropped by 10 per cent. The number of offences involving possession of a weapon also fell, down four per cent on the previous year.
But there was a rise in violent crime, and a major increase in drug offences – up two per cent and 22 per cent respectively. There were 33,964 offences of violence against a person, and 2,646 drug offences in total.
Today's figures were released as the force revealed it is having to deal with more Covid offences.
It confirmed seven people had been fined in Oswestry for being in a pub flouting lockdown rules. The force added that the pub was also reported for Covid breaches and, along with the drinkers, would be receiving fines from Shropshire Council.
Officers also said a man has been reported in Ketley, Telford, for leaving their home while a member of their household had tested positive for Covid.
Only last week it was revealed that West Mercia Police had handed out more fines for face mask offences than anywhere else in the country, with 214 – a fifth of all fines in England and Wales.
Restrictions
The region's crime commissioner, John Campion said that lockdown had definitely played a part in the reduction, but that the efforts of officers and initiatives had also been borne out.
He said: “I have been largely encouraged by today’s crime figures, which show a decrease across a number of crime types in West Mercia, with overall crime decreasing more in West Mercia than in other parts of the country.
"There is no doubt that the restrictions on movement that we have all experienced over almost a year have had a positive effect on these figures, with large reductions seen in acquisitive crimes such as burglary, vehicle offences and robbery.
“However, Covid-19 is only part of the story. I have made it my mission to combat and reduce acquisitive crime by investing in crime prevention initiatives such as We Don’t Buy Crime and to the increase uptake of SmartWater across the region, which will have had a positive impact on the reduction.
“It is a sad fact that domestic violence equates to around a third of all reported crimes in West Mercia. It is my firm belief that not only do we need to provide support for victims of domestic abuse, but also services that tackle the root causes of perpetrator behaviour, reducing the risk of serious harm. My funding for the #Drive campaign has been extended until 2022 make sure that we challenge and reduce perpetrator behaviour.”
West Mercia Police, Chief Superintendent, Paul Moxley, said: “It is reassuring to see that despite the added challenges of Covid-19, our effort to reduce the rate of overall recorded crime continues.
“Local policing teams have been working especially hard to target offences such as drugs offences, theft, burglary, fraud and malicious communications.
“We have seen a rise in the number of drug offences we are recording, which is down to the proactive approach we take to target drug related crimes.
"Despite the challenges of Covid-19, throughout the past year we have continued to stop/search the right people and execute a large number of successful warrants as part of our efforts to tackle serious and organised crime. Our seizures of drugs have gone up as a consequence of this proactivity.
“Throughout the past year, people have spent more time at home which we know will be a contributing factor to the rise in online fraud.
“Disappointingly, we have also seen a continued rise in the number of assaults against our officers and other emergency service workers.
"Our officers and all emergency service workers are doing their best to work through these tough times and I would like to reiterate that no violence against members of our communities, including those emergency workers trying to help and protect people from harm, will be tolerated.
“It is crucial that the public have confidence in us and our service and it remains vitally important that all victims feel they can come forward.
“We are never complacent about any rises in specific crimes; at the heart of our vision and values is protecting people from harm, putting the public first and addressing the needs and demands of our communities with courage and compassion. It is these values that motivate each of us each day to serve our communities and improve or service where possible.
"We will continue to do everything we can to reduce and tackle crime and bring those responsible to justice.”
Crime in Powys is also down, falling seven per cent overall, although there were a number of rises. Drug offences were up by four per cent while offences involving the possession of a weapon were up by 14 per cent. There was also a major rise in public order offences – up 29 per cent. The force did see a 19 per cent drop in sexual offences, a drop of 17 per cent for theft crimes, and nine per cent for burglary.
