APCC Response to Statistical Bulletin on Crime in England and Wales (1)
In response to the Office for National Statistics’ publication of the Statistical Bulletin on Crime in England and Wales [more info] for the year ending March 2017, the Lead of the APCC Performance Portfolio Group, Matthew Scott PCC said:
“Today’s crime statistics reveal a challenging picture for police forces across the country. Whilst the latest Crime Survey results show a 7% reduction in the incidents of crime – police recorded crime shows a 10% increase.
“The ONS are clear that this increase reflects a number of factors, which include improvements in recording processes and more offences covered. We know that, for example, police recorded domestic abuse rises can be, in part, due to recording improvements and in terms of sexual offences a contributing factor to the increase is an increased willingness of victims to come forward and report these crimes to the police.
“However, it is clear that there are some genuine increases in some crime types and PCCs will look to redouble their efforts, working alongside their Chief Constables, to tackle crime in their areas and make their communities safer places to live and work.”
Keith Hunter PCC, Deputy Lead of the APCC Performance Portfolio Group said:
“The increase in police recorded offences such as homicide and knife crime is a concern and today’s workforce figures show another drop in the police workforce; now at the lowest level since 2003. Indeed, the number of police officers is at its lowest level since 1985.
“More broadly, the APCC is currently working with the NPCC and the College of Policing to produce a factual narrative to support service funding in both the medium and long term. The aim is to provide the Government with an assessment on police resourcing, reflecting the views of PCCs on current and long term police levels, and how effectively Commissioners and Forces are utilising those resources.”