Crime in Nottinghamshire rises by six per cent

Crime in Nottinghamshire has risen six per cent as violence and sexual offences continue to increase.

Government statistics also show the number of people reported shoplifting and carrying weapons has gone up.

But there have been big falls in robbery and burglary and in drug-related crime.

Senior officers said some rises were down to more people having the confidence to report crime, but admitted they have work to do to halt the increase.

Assistant chief constable Simon Torr said: “It remains the case that stemming the increase in violence and sexual offences is a priority for us in Nottinghamshire, as it does nationally.

“The National Police Chiefs Council has made it clear today that it is not enough to credit the willingness of victims and witnesses to come forward.

“The police service as a whole needs to look at why more incidents of knife crime are being reported across the country and whether more sexual offences are in fact being committed.”

It is the second time in a row quarterly Government figures have indicated violence and sex crimes are rising in Notts.

Victims are showing a greater willingness to report crime

Mr Torr added:  “We have said previously that the increase in sexual offences reflects the fact that victims are showing a greater willingness to report crimes to us.

“We have a very robust recording practice that is also contributing to the increase, while the recent high profile of historic sexual abuse cases continues to have an impact.”

He also said changes brought in during April 2015 to how police forces count violent crime was having an effect.

“It means that some incident types that do not result injury or involve any physical contact at all can now be categorised as violent crime,” he said.

“These changes have accounted for the increase even though there has not been an actual increase in violence, as most people would probably understand it, over the reporting period.”

The figures were released as Notts Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping prepares to set out how the force will spend its budget over the next 12 months.

Mr Tipping says new cost pressures for the force including inflation, wage rises, National Insurance changes will amount to £11m in 2016 to 17.

This week he announced the force will attempt to save money by cutting the number of officers in higher salaried brackets through changes to the ranking structure.

“Our budget remains under pressure but it is important that residents in both rural and urban areas feel safe and secure,” Mr Tipping said.

“They want strong, safe and proud communities where they can bring up their children and families – and this overarching priority is at the top of my mind when planning where and how our funding should be spent.”