Action plan in place as sexual offences, burglary and shoplifting increase in Humberside Police region

SEXUAL offences, burglary and shoplifting have all increased in the region over the last year.

According to the latest annual crime statistics, overall recorded crime for 2013-14 has increased by three per cent in comparison to 2012-13.

However, across the whole of the Humberside Police area, the long-term trend for crime is down. Whilst crime is up this year, the figure remains considerably lower than it was ten years ago.

There were a number of increases recorded in certain crime areas – such as, violence against the person, sexual offences, burglary and shoplifting.

Meanwhile, vehicle offences, theft from a person and public order offences all recorded reductions.

Deputy Chief Constable David Griffin said: "The latest figures show a modest increase in crime over the past year. However, it is important to put this into context and look at the longer-term picture, which shows that over a ten-year period, crime has dropped dramatically.

"Furthermore, the latest published figures refer to crime up to the end of March 2014, but in the three months since then recorded crime has taken a downward turn again.

"That having been said, there has been an increase in certain crime areas and we are working hard to address these.

"Shop theft is one area that has been an issue for the force and which accounts for a tenth of all crime locally.

"We currently have Operation Sodium ongoing, which is changing the way we deal with retail crime, so more offences are prevented within store, allowing police officers valuable time to be focused on bringing the most prolific offenders to justice and supporting the more vulnerable shops."

The figures also show a rise in violent crime over the past year. The increase for violence with injury was up by just over one per cent, but the larger increase of violence without injury was up by 23 per cent.

Mr Griffin added: "The force recently commissioned the College Of Policing to look at violent crime and an action plan is now in place to address a range of issues. However, the college made a number of positive findings. One of these was how we record violent crime ethically and there is a link between rising violent crime and increased domestic abuse reporting.

"It is also important to note that locally, people are reporting greater levels of violence without injury. The culture of more serious violent crimes, including gun crime that occurs in other parts of the country, is not as evident here in Humberside."

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