RECORDED crime in West Mercia is decreasing year on year, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
The figures which show a 2.4 per cent decrease in overall crime, are welcomed by the Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion.
The figures also show reductions in violence with injury, drugs offences, burglary, robbery, sexual offences, public order, vehicle offences and theft.
Conversely to the national trend, cyber crime offences have fallen in West Mercia and there are low numbers of offences involving knives and other bladed weapons.
However West Mercia says work will continue to ensure the force is able address those areas where increases have been seen including offences relating to death and serious injury caused by unlawful driving, shoplifting and possession of weapons.
PCC Campion said: “West Mercia is a place where people are safe and feel safe, and it is reassuring to see a decrease in the types of crimes which affect our communities the most.
“We are not complacent however and there are always areas to improve.
“I will continue to ensure the police can continue to work efficiently and effectively to tackle these.”
The ONS compares total recorded crime for the year ending September 2018 to the previous year.
The following areas have seen decreases in recorded crime:
Sexual offences: four per cent decrease, violence with Injury: nine per cent decrease, robbery: 10 per cent decrease, theft: 1.4 per cent decrease; burglary: eight per cent decrease, non-residential burglary: 70 per cent decrease, vehicle offences: 5.3 per cent decrease, drug offences: 21 per cent decrease, public order: 15 per cent decrease, cyber crime: two per cent decrease.
In the year ending September 2018, there were 448 offences involving a knife in West Mercia, equating to three per cent of offences. The national average is six per cent.
