Mix in reaction to rise in crime
Surprise, confidence and fears - community leaders have given a mixed reaction to figures which show reported crime has risen across the West Midlands and Staffordshire.
The figures from the Office for National Statistics showed recorded offences had gone up 10 per cent in the West Midlands, and 14 per cent in Staffordshire.
The statistics, comparing 2015 with 2016, also gave a breakdown for categories of crime. They showed incidents of violence had risen in Staffordshire and West Midlands.
But Christine Baron, secretary of the Stafford Borough Crime Prevention Panel, said: "I do get regular updates on the crime figures and I must say I'm surprised about this recent increase.
"Yes, there are some problems, we hear of break-ins and vandalism, but I don't hear of anything too serious in this area. People aren't living in fear of crime."
Ms Baron said there had, however, been an increase in pickpocketing in Stafford. She urged people to take care of their valuables when out shopping.
The figures showed shoplifting had increased in Stafford to 649 incidents in 2016 from 594, but thefts from a person had dropped from 46 to 44 incidents.
Councillor Sean Coughlan, leader of Walsall Council, said people living in Walsall did live in fear of crime.
He said: "If you go to any community group, go to a meeting, speak to members, they will tell you they do not see enough police about.
"They will tell you they do fear crime. I'm afraid it is getting worse, you go down to an industrial yard, hear an intruder alarm, but you see nothing happening.
"It is a trend, and unfortunately where you live does have a factor on the crime around you. Walsall is no rural village in Staffordshire."
Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of the conservative party in Dudley, said: "In Dudley, I think it is one of the safest places I know to live.
"We had some high profile incidents of knife crime in the past 12 months, and that is regrettable, but we try to work with police when there are spikes to keep levels low."
He added: "There are, of course, always improvements to be made."
Councillor Preet Gill, Sandwell cabinet member for public health and protection, said: "We need to be careful when taking in these figures.
"If more crimes are reported it may not just simply mean more are taking place. It can be that awareness has improved or trust in the police has gone up."
She added: "You get peaks and troughs in crime, I have not heard anything out the ordinary, however."
