CRIME is down to its second lowest level in over a decade despite an increase in reported incidents over the past year.
Leicestershire Police Chief Constable Simon Cole and the county’s police and crime commissioner Sir Clive Loader have both said they were disappointed by the increase of almost 2,000 crimes, blaming a rising population.
This increase is predominantly in shoplifting, theft from person and bike theft, but house burglary has also gone up slightly.
Reports of domestic abuse have increased, something the force has actually welcomed, while anti social behaviour continues its downward trend although there were still 24,445 incidents reported – over a third of all crime.
Ten years ago, there were 91,000 recorded crimes reported by 924,000 people living in the county with the past year’s figures showing there have been 61,000 crimes reported by one million people, amounting to around 58 crimes per 1,000 people.
Mr Cole said: “We were set some challenging reduction targets by the commissioner in his Police and Crime Plan and whilst I am disappointed some of these have not been achieved, officers and staff continue to work tirelessly every day to protect the vulnerable and to target those who cause most harm in our communities.
“Overall, the public remain confident in us with over 90 per cent feeling that we do a fair, good or very good job.”
Operation Tiger, launched in October as what was described as a fierce crackdown on known criminals, has been hailed as one of the year’s success with over 500 people arrested so far.
Mr Loader added: “The fact remains there is considerably less crime in the area than there was ten years ago – a trend I am determined to see continue.
“With these facts in mind, for this performance year I have asked the Chief Constable to do all within his power to make significant reductions in crime, particularly in high volume areas.”
