Reported crimes rise by almost 10% in Stoke-on-Trent
There were almost 2,000 more crimes reported in 2021, compared to the year before
The number of reported crimes has gone up in Stoke on Trent by almost 10% in the past year.
There were 1,979 more crimes reported in the 12 months up to January 2022 compared to the previous year, the latest report from the city’s Community Safety Partnership Board revealed. In the year up to January 2022 24,780 crimes were reported – up from 22,801.
The Community Safety Partnership Board is responsible for reducing crime and disorder in the city, as well as drug and alcohol offences and re-offending.
Its aims include tackling crimes which have the most impact on communities, such as anti-social behaviour (ASB), criminal damage, drug supply and violence in public spaces, as well as domestic abuse and sexual crimes in households and preventing children, young people and vulnerable adults from exploitation.
Adrian Scarrott from Stoke on Trent Community Safety Partnership Board, who presented the update to Wednesday’s Stoke on Trent City Council Health and Wellbeing Board meeting, said: “In terms of overall crime we’re showing an increase in 9% over the past 12 months, which is what we would expect in terms of everything as far as we can reasonably say returning back to normal.
“There are positive results – drug offences have reduced by 18% during the period. On the back of previous discussions around implementing national drug strategy that is quite encouraging.
“Antisocial behaviour has reduced by 14% over the same period and domestic abuse is showing a 1% reduction in terms of crime and non-crime.”
But referrals of victims to the New Era domestic abuse support service were up by 28% in the year up to December 2021 however, from 2,167 to 2,768 – an increase of 601.
Mr Scarrott said: “We’re not being complacent, but there is an element of positiveness in that. There is a lot more people approaching, requesting and receiving support and it isn’t overall creating an increase in terms of domestic abuse crimes.”
Reported levels of hate crime went up by 5% in the year up to January 2022, from 636 to 666.
The report to Wednesday’s board meeting said: “The USAH (Uniting Staffordshire Against Hate) service supported 41 victims of hate crime during the three months to December 2022. This was the first quarter of operation for this new service, so comparisons with previous periods are not available.
“The Community Cohesion Team are engaging with schools to arrange sessions for young people for the academic year 2021/22 and 25 Community Cohesion sessions have been delivered to 1,107 pupils in the current financial year.
“Due to Covid, visits to faith institutions and community organisations were not possible during the previous year. however continued support was still provided on faith matters to the statutory sector and education institutions. The aim is to start arranging visits to faith institutions and community organisations from the start of the new academic year in September 2022.”