Latest statistics demonstrate commitment to a safer South Yorkshire

There has been a spring clean in South Yorkshire, with crime figures since the start of April showing a nine per cent drop in total offences.

Today the county’s Force has released its recorded crime statistics for July 2011 to June 2012 compared with the previous 12-month period. These figures show increases in burglary and robbery but so far this financial year (April to June), targeted action by officers and staff has made a real difference with four per cent fewer burglaries and 11 per cent fewer robberies compared to last year.

The latest rolling-year statistics show a reduction in total crime of 2,754 offences across South Yorkshire, down three per cent to 98,458 crimes, with total violent crime, total vehicle crime, criminal damage and drug offences falling this period.

Deputy Chief Constable Bob Dyson said: “Overall crime is down to five figures for the first time in over 20 years – our challenge, in the face of continued budget cuts, is to maintain our six-year trend of reducing the number of victims across the county.

“We’re not complacent, as demonstrated by the reductions seen over the last few months in burglary and robbery. These crimes affect people’s lives so when we recognised the offences were increasing, we took action using a variety tactics; extra patrols in key areas, crime reduction messages and the use of intelligence to arrest prolific offenders.”

Total violent crime is down ten per cent comparing July 2011 to June 2012 with the previous 12 months, a drop of 1,593 crimes to 14,631.

This includes an 11 per cent reduction in violence against people, down 1,594 crimes to 12,934, an eight per cent drop in sexual offences, down 56 crimes to 641, and a three per cent increase in robbery offences, up 28 crimes to 840 offences.

Total vehicle crime is down four per cent, a drop of 469 offences to 11,337. This includes a 20 per cent reduction in theft of motor vehicles, down 623 to 2,515, and a two per cent increase in theft from motor vehicles, up 172 crimes to 8,635.

Burglaries have increased by four per cent across South Yorkshire. That’s a rise of 683 crimes to 16,575. Included in this figure are house burglaries, up five per cent by 354 to 7,519, and other burglaries, up four per cent by 329 to 9,056.

Criminal damage offences are down by 1,718, a nine per cent reduction to 18,440. Drug offences are also down showing an eight per cent drop by 423 crimes to 4,690.

Theft and handling stolen goods offences have shown a slight reduction of one per cent, down 154 crimes to 17,673. Fraud and forgery offences are up one per cent by 29 offences to 2,173.