Knife, drug and sexual crime rise across West Mercia, figures show

Knife crime, sexual offences and drug crime are all increasing in West Mercia.

The number of crashes resulting in death or serious injury has also risen according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

But overall crime fell by two percent between July 2025 and June 2026 across the West Mercia Police force area.

Police and crime commissioner John Campion said proactive policing can lead to more arrests and increased recorded crime.

ONS data shows that serious offences involving a “knife or sharp instrument” have increased by four percent compared to last year.

There has also been a nine percent increase in crashes resulting in death or serious injury caused by unlawful driving, while recorded sexual offences have risen by seven percent.

Drug offences have risen by 12 percent across the force area.

Mr Campion said: “While these figures do show increases in some offences, it is important to understand the context behind the data.

“In many cases, proactive policing activity can lead to more arrests and increased recorded crime.

“It’s important that communities also understand that changes to the way data is now being recorded mean that direct comparisons with previous figures may not always be like-for-like.”

The number of recorded robberies has increased by 46 percent but Mr Campion said this is partly due to a change in the way offences have been counted by the Home Office since April 2025, with offences including theft and shoplifting where threatening behaviour or violence has been used now classed as robbery.

“Alongside supporting West Mercia Police to deliver enforcement activity, I continue to commission services such as Steer Clear who offer early intervention programmes, and have set out a commitment with partners across the force area to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads,” said Mr Campion.

“I am reassured that overall crime across West Mercia has seen a decrease and I remain committed to supporting West Mercia Police and working with partners to build safer, stronger communities where people can feel safe.”

The ONS figures show that across West Mercia there were 30 percent fewer thefts from people, meaning fewer residents having personal belongings such as phones, wallets or bags stolen.

There were 21 percent fewer vehicle offences, 11 percent fewer public order offences, and seven percent fewer burglaries of homes.