Latest Figures Show Reductions in Many Crime Types in South Yorkshire
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) have today released figures that show that many crime types have decreased in South Yorkshire – some significantly – over the 12 months to June 2021.
Recorded levels of overall crime (-5%), theft (-21%), residential burglary (-18%) knife crime (-15%) and robbery (-14%) all fell in the 12 months to June 2021 compared to the previous 12 month period. South Yorkshire also saw a slight decrease in sexual offences compared to Yorkshire and the Humber and England and Wales, where these crime increased.
The number of drug offences saw the largest increase (21%) after an increase in the targeted work that South Yorkshire Police has undertaken to target gang crime and drugs supply.
Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “It is good news to see a reduction in the number of crimes in areas such as theft, residential burglary and knife crime and these are the areas of crime that the public often tell me they are most concerned about.
I am particularly pleased to see the fall in knife crime because this is not often the public perception. I want to thank those officers whose hard work lies behind many of these statistics.
“However, whilst I welcome the figures, I am also cautious about comparing them to previous years as we are still working to understand the extent to which the pandemic has affected criminal activity over the past year and in what ways.
“The increase in drug offences seems concerning, but in part it will indicate that the police have been very proactive in tackling drug dealers and those involved in the drugs trade. A significant number of disruption operations have been undertaken to tackle gang-related crime and disrupt serious criminal activity, and this will have put up the number of recorded crimes.
“I have invested more funds into South Yorkshire Police to enable them to recruit more officers across all areas but also to establish a team to specifically tackle those serious and often violent offenders who make their money from supplying drugs.
“More crimes are now being detected and more people being prosecuted and often receiving lengthy prison sentences and this is what the public expect.”
The full report by the Office of National Statistics can be viewed here:
