Latest crime figures for Hastings show rise in recorded offences
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There were 9,161 reported offences during the 12 months to September 2018, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows.
That is up by one per cent on the previous year, when 9,076 incidents were recorded.
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Hide AdThat means there was a rate of 99 crimes per 1,000 residents during 2017-18, above the England and Wales average of 85.
The statistics are based on crimes reported to the police, and the ONS urges caution in interpreting some of these figures.
Helen Ross, from the ONS Centre for Crime and Justice, said: “In recent decades we’ve seen the overall level of crime falling, but in the last year, it remained level.
“Burglary, shoplifting and computer misuse are decreasing but others, such as vehicle offences and robbery are rising.
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Hide Ad“We have also seen increases in some types of ‘lower-volume, high-harm’ violence including offences involving knives or sharp instruments.”
Gun and knife possession offences in Hastings rose by six to 142 incidents.
There were 412 residential burglaries reported in 2017-18. Due to a change in how the ONS categorises burglaries, the localised figures cannot be compared with other years.
There have been four homicides, which are murders or manslaughters.
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Hide AdAcross England and Wales, the number of recorded homicides rose by 14 per cent, to the highest level since 2008. These figures excluded people who died in terror attacks.
In Hastings, theft, one of the most high volume crimes, decreased by seven per cent. Drugs related offences dropped by 16 per cent.
Commenting on the national figures, Chief Constable Bill Skelly, of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: “Rising crime, increased terrorist activity and fewer police officers have put serious strain on the policing we offer to the public.
“We are determining the additional capabilities and investment we need to drive down violence and catch more criminals – and we will make the case at the next Government Spending Review.”
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Hide AdPrime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman said: “These statistics show that your chance of being a victim of crime remains low, but we recognise that certain crimes – particularly violent crime – have increased, and we are taking action to address this.”
Criminal damage in Hastings, which includes arson and vandalising cars and houses, has gone down, from 1,233 incidents in 2016-17, to 1,193 in the latest figures.
Violence with injury crimes, which include assault, GBH and wounding, have dropped, however the ONS said they are tough to judge as police recording in this area has improved.
Similarly, the ONS said sexual offences are hard to judge as many more victims are now coming forward due to a series of high profile cases.
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Hide AdIn Hastings, there were 337 incidents recorded between October 2017 and September 2018, a 14 per cent rise on the previous year, when 296 crimes were reported.
There were also 602 cases of stalking and harassment reported over the same period.
John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation, said: “Society just isn’t as safe as it once was, and although the police service is doing everything within its power, we are swimming against the tide.”
• Report by Ralph Blackburn, data reporter
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• To see the figures for the each area of Sussex follow these links – Adur; Arun; Brighton and Hove; Chichester; Crawley; Eastbourne; Hastings; Horsham; Lewes; Mid Sussex; Rother; Wealden; Worthing