9.3.1 Levels of recorded crime in 2009/10 were lower in the South West region than in England and Wales as a whole: the region recorded the second lowest rate of crime per 1,000 head of population in England and Wales (at 66 recorded offences compared to 79 for England and Wales). Some 343,782 crimes were recorded by the police forces in the South West in 2009/10, 26% fewer than 2002/03 and 9% fewer than 2008/09. For detailed data regarding recorded crime figures see the Home Office publication Crime in England and Wales 2009/10.
Figure 9.3.1 Recorded crime per 1,000 population 2002/03 to 2009/10
Recorded crime per 1,000 population 2002/03 to 2009/10 (Fig 9.3.1). Source: Crime in England & Wales 2009/10 (and previous years), Home Office.
9.3.2 South West recorded crime rates in 2009/10 were lower than or equal to the overall England and Wales rates for all offence groups.
Table 9.3.1 Recorded Crime Rates per 1,000 Population in 2009/10
|
South West
|
England & Wales
|
| Violence against the person |
14
|
16
|
| Sexual offences |
1
|
1
|
| Robbery |
1
|
1
|
| Burglary |
8
|
10
|
| Offences against vehicles |
7
|
9
|
| Other theft offences |
16
|
19
|
| Fraud and forgery |
2
|
3
|
| Criminal damage |
14
|
15
|
| Drug offences |
3
|
4
|
| Other offences |
1
|
1
|
|
ALL RECORDED CRIME |
66
|
74
|
| Source: Crime in England & Wales 2009/10, Home Office |
9.3.3 Despite the South West having a rate lower than in England (see Table 9.3.1), in 2009/10 criminal damage accounted for 21% of the total of all recorded crime in the region. The largest offence group – at 24% of all recorded offences in the South West – was ‘other theft offences’.
Figure 9.3.2 Recorded Crime by Offence Group 2009/10 in South West (percentage)
Recorded Crime by Offence Group 2009/10 in South West (percentage) (Fig 9.3.2). Source: Crime in England & Wales, 2009/10, Home Office
9.3.4 While overall levels of recorded crime in the South West have fallen by 26% since 2002/03 there has been notable fluctuation within the main crime types over the last few years.
Figure 9.3.3 Changes in Recorded Crime Rates per 1,000 Population by Offence Group 2005/06 - 2009/10
Changes in Recorded Crime Rates per 1,000 Population by Offence Group 2005/06 - 2009/10 (Fig 9.3.3). Source: Home Office Recorded Crime Data.
9.3.5 The figure above shows changes since 2005/06 in the South West. Rates of violence against the person, offences against vehicles, burglary, robbery, other theft offences, fraud and forgery, sexual offences, criminal damage and ‘other offences’ were all lower in the most recent figures (2009/10) than they were in 2005/06. In particular, the rate per 1,000 population of recorded offences against vehicles declined from 11 in 2005/06 to 7 in 2009/10, the rate of violence against the person offences declined from 17 to 14, and the rate of criminal damage offences went down from 19 to 14.
9.3.6 The only offence group for which the rate increased from 2005/06 to 2009/10 is drug offences, although even this was by a comparatively small amount. It should be noted, however, that police recorded crime figures for drug offences tend to be more a measure of drug policing activity and changes may reflect changes in national and local policing priorities rather than changes in the incidence of drug use.
