Most categories of crime have increased in South Holland and possession of weapons has almost doubled, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.
In the data, which lists crimes from July 2017-June 2018, offences including burglary, stalking, violent crime, sexual offences and possession of weapons have all increased from the 2016-17 set.
Almost all incidents of theft are up, the figures reveal. These include bicycle theft (123, up from 72), robbery (23, up from 19), shoplifting (524, up from 406) and combined incidents of burglary totalled 406. “All other theft offences” totalled 529.
Theft from the person (non-violent) has dropped from 25 to 11 this year.
There has been a slight drop in criminal damage and arson offences, which drops six from 604 last year to 598 for July 2017-June 2018.
“Miscellaneous crimes against society” are up by one, however, rising to a round 100.
Public order offences have had a steep rise too, with 184 recorded in the most recent period – up from 115.
Violent crime has had a steep rise, with 1,090 recorded cases. Of these, 577 were categorised as violence with injury and 520 was violence without injury.
Possession of weapons offences have almost doubled, at 55 – a big leap from the previous figure of 27.
Recorded stalking and harassment offences have also increased, with 147 in the most recent period, up from the previous figure of 121.
Similarly, sexual offences have risen. The July 2017-June 2018 total for South Holland was 152 – another
increase, up from 139.
Recorded drug offences also rose, with 144 in the recent period, an increase from the former 115 figure.
Inspector Gareth Boxall of Spalding Police said the rise in crime is both in line with the national average and testament to victims coming forward: “The rise in crime in South Holland is in line with rises in crime elsewhere.
“Our officers work hard to reduce crime but with fewer police officers and more demand this becomes increasingly more difficult.
“Some of the disparities come from the changes in the way we are directed to record crimes such as burglary offences.
“A number of the increases will undoubtedly be due to improvements in the way we record crime; we are now recording crimes more effectively.
“Particularly in offences of abuse and violence, it is reassuring to see that victims have the confidence to report crime to us that previously went unreported.
“Whilst we all want to see crime figures fall in South Holland, those figures only tell part of the story and my aim is to make sure the figures reflect the crime that is actually occurring in our communities.
“I am confident that our officers are dedicated to preventing crime, dealing effectively with offenders and supporting victims.”
