Violent crime a 'priority' for Staffordshire Police

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), crime fell by six per cent in the Staffordshire Police area for the year to March.

Overall 79,461 crimes were recorded over the period, with 38 per cent of them (30,385 crimes) involving violence.

Chief Constable Gareth Morgan today said "violent crime continues to be a priority for us", adding that his force was determined to prevent crime from rising following the lifting of lockdown restrictions.

Across the county burglary was down 18 per cent to 4,772, robbery fell by 20 per cent to 800 and there was a 19 per cent decrease in violence with injury offences.

The force recorded 597 offences involving a knife or sharp object, a fall of 11 per cent on the previous year, while possession of weapons offences dropped by 11 per cent to 711.

Sex offences fell by eight per cent to 2,979, and criminal damage and arson both dropped seven per cent.

There was an 18 per cent rise in theft from person crimes to 602, and the county saw 2,005 drug offences, a rise of one per cent.

Welcome

A total of 11 of 43 forces in England and Wales saw a drop in crime over the year, with Lancashire Constabulary recording the biggest decrease of 13 per cent.

Mr Morgan said: "We welcome these latest figures – and while we’re pleased that we’re one of the forces in the country to see a drop in overall crime, as lockdown measures continue to ease, we are determined to bear down on crime and do all we can to try and prevent it rising to pre-lockdown highs.

"Violent crime continues to be a priority for us and all too often police see the effects of violence on individuals and communities.

"We recently announced the launch of a multi-agency strategy committed to tackling serious violence and its root causes which commits partners to working together even more closely to deliver real action and change with a greater focus on prevention to stop harm happening.

"The force also continues to invest areas such as an enhanced roads policing capability, digital investigations and a proactive disruption capability to tackle the issues that cause local concern and deliver a better service and outcomes for communities.

"I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the police officers, staff and volunteers of Staffordshire Police alongside partner agencies who work tirelessly to tackle criminality and support victims and witnesses."