Crime on the rise

Recorded crime figures show that crime has risen in Greater Manchester over the  12 months from September 2013 to September 2014, with overall recorded crime rising by 6% per cent.

The figures released by the Office for National Statistics align with a worrying trend.

Violence against the person has risen by 27% and sexual offences including rape have increased by 26%. These increases are being partly attributed to improved quality of crime recording and work being done to encourage victims to report such crimes.

In the case of sexual offences, it is believed that the so-called ‘Savile effect’ is also still very much in play, with historic and current victims of sexual abuse feeling empowered to come forward as a result of hearing other victims telling their stories in court and seeing high-profile perpetrators being brought to justice.

Greater Manchester Police Deputy Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, said: “We are now seeing a significant rise in the number of violent offences, domestic abuse and sexual offences reported to the Force. 

“You can see from the figures that the crime trend is seeing a turn towards a need to protect vulnerable people. This is a continued priority but we recognise the other areas of crime such as theft offences and burglary.

“We will continue to do all that we can to bring in those offenders who are targeting homes and individuals but home owners and the community also have their part to play. By keeping homes and valuables secure you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of crime.”

Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd said: “I have been warning for some time about the increase in crime that we are now seeing. We saw the 20-year downward trend for Greater Manchester’s crime come to a juddering halt 12 months’ ago and since then crime has crept up and up.

“While analysis of recorded crime figures is complex – for example some of the increases can be attributed to improvements in the way that crime is now recorded and the work being done to encourage victims to come forward and report crimes – there can be no doubt that crime is on the rise.”