“These statistics should be a wake-up call to the government” – PCC reaction to crime statistics

Crime statistics released today show that crime is changing not falling.

Nationally, there has been a nine per cent increase in recorded crime and a nine per cent rise in the West Midlands. Nearby forces have also seen increases in recorded crime – 14 per cent in Staffordshire, 12 per cent in Warwickshire and 12 per cent in West Mercia.

Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: 
“These statistics should be a wake-up call to the government. They show once again that crime is changing and not falling.

“West Midlands Police is facing more complex threats than ever before and should receive the resources it needs to deal with those threats. Instead of which next year’s budget will be cut by a further £6million on top of the £130million already lost since 2010.

“We are seeing crimes such as sexual offences, cyber crime and fraud rise in prevalence and they require much more intensive police work and investigation than ‘traditional’ crimes.

“The Government needs to recognise the police are dealing with increasingly complex crimes that require intensive investigative work and support police forces properly. Despite  Government promises, police forces are still facing real-terms cuts in funding.”

Recorded crime percentage increase year ending September 2015 compared to September 2016