The latest estimates by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) for the year ending March 2019 show that there was no change in all CSEW crime (including fraud and computer misuse) compared with the previous year (11.2 million offences).
As for the main types of crime, while the latest estimate of 3,750,000 theft offences showed no significant change in the last year, there was a 13pc increase compared with the year ending March 2017. Computer misuse offences decreased by 261,000 offences (21pc, to 966,000 offences), due largely to a 38pc decrease in computer viruses. And fraud offences increased by 554,000 offences (17pc, to 3.8 million offences); this was driven mainly by an increase in the “bank and credit account fraud” offence category, which saw a volume increase of 338,000 offences (15pc, to 2.6 million offences).
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Mark Bangs from the ONS’ Centre for Crime and Justice described the picture of crime as a complex one. “Overall levels of crime have remained steady, but this is not the case for all types of crime. For example, overall levels of violence have remained steady but we have seen increases in violent crimes involving knives and sharp instruments. We have seen increases in fraud and overall theft, but decreases in burglary following recent rises.”
For the Police Federation, the group for rank and file police, National Chair, John Apter, said the figures cause alarm bells. “How can we start to reassure the public and give them the confidence to believe that their safety is this Government’s priority? The Prime Minister has continually said that police officer numbers have no bearing on rising crime levels. The figures released today clearly show very concerning increases in crime. For far too long, crime and policing has not been taken seriously enough. This vital public service is shouting out for investment in time and money.”
North Yorkshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Phil Cain said the county remains the safest place in England. “That said, we have seen increases in some types of recorded crime. This highlights the challenges we continue to face in policing, which we have a duty to address with the limited resources available to us.
“We’re meeting those challenges by finding new or better ways to tackle different types of crime and further improving victim confidence, so more people feel comfortable coming forward and reporting crimes to us.
“There are lots of ways we’re doing this. We’re issuing frontline officers with handheld devices so they spend less time behind a desk and more time on the beat, where the public can approach them, chat to them and share information.
“We’re developing dedicated teams, who are highly trained in certain areas of policing, such as our Rural Taskforce, our teams that safeguard vulnerable people and our Fraud and Cybercrime experts. And crucially, we’re helping victims by giving them the response, support and confidence they need to report a crime.
“That may mean we see year-on-year fluctuations in crime figures. But it also means we’re putting victims first and adapting the way we work to meet the challenges we face, to ensure North Yorkshire once again remains the safest place in England.”
