Hike in crime stats ‘distorted’ says Notts police chief

A police chief says new recorded crime figures which show a massive hike in some serious crime in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire over the past year are distorted.
Nottinghamshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Paddy Tipping on walkabout in the Oak Tree ward,Nottinghamshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Paddy Tipping on walkabout in the Oak Tree ward,
Nottinghamshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Paddy Tipping on walkabout in the Oak Tree ward,

Home office figures show serious violent crime increased sharply in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire last year.

The figures show there was a rise of 17 per cent of violence with injury in Nottinghamshire and 13 per cent in Derbyshire.

Sexual offences increased by 72 per cent in Nottinghamshire and 39 per cent in Derbyshire.

The annual figures from the Office for National Statistics were for the year up to the end of March 2015 compared with the year ending March 2014.

There were around 2,000 additional crimes where someone was recorded as being injured.

In Nottinghamshire, recorded crime went up by six per cent and in Derbyshire it decreased by two per cent.

In 2013/14 violence with injury figures for Nottinghamshire stood at 8,158, increased to 9,566.

In Derbyshire, it went from 5,380 cases to 6,087.

Paddy Tipping, Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “In Nottinghamshire we have worked hard to ensure that we record crime in line with the Home Office recording rules, which changed this year.

“For example, we now log incidents such as staring or offensive texts as violent crime, which distorts the picture and has an impact on the overall number of crimes recorded by Nottinghamshire Police.

“On the positive side, our compliance with the counting rules now stands at 95.3 per cent, which is excellent news.

“Looking more closely at the actual figures I’m pleased to see the drop in crimes such burglary and robbery, which I know has a real impact on the victim.

We have also sought to increase reporting of hate crime, sexual violence and domestic abuse which has had positive results, illustrating the public’s increasing confidence that they will be treated seriously and provided with appropriate support.”