Crime down in Melton but violent offences on the increase

The total number of reported crimes for the Melton Community Safety Partnership area for the 12 months up to December 2019 was 2,838, which is three per cent down on the previous year.

But incidents of public disorder have gone up from 173 to 255, violence against a person have risen by 88 reports to 999 and violence where injury was caused have increased by 25 to 295.

Police in Melton have also investigated the reporting of 279 allegations of stalking or harassment compared to 221 the year before, according to the new data released by the Office for National Statistics.

Leicestershire Chief Constable Simon Cole said: “Violent crime is an issue we are constantly addressing in force.

“These offences are completely unacceptable and we continue to act on information we receive to investigate offences.

“We also continue to work with communities and partner agencies to raise awareness of the impact these crimes can have.”

There has been a reduction in burglaries and thefts in the Melton area, as there has been across the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland area as a whole.

Analysis of the figures across the force, show residential burglaries decreased by 13 per cent during 2019 when compared to the previous year and theft from the person offences dropped by 20 per cent.

In the Melton area alone, there was a major decrease in shoplifting reports, from 330 to only 135 in 2019, and there were also fewer incidents of sexual assault, 112 down to 73 last year.

Chief Constable Simon Cole added: “We continually monitor crime data within force to determine our priorities and assist with our ongoing work.

“However where we see reports of decreases such as with burglaries and thefts, while this can be seen as positive news, in no way does it alter the way we work and the determination we have to prevent and detect these crimes and to keep our communities safe.”

The Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner, Lord Willy Bach, said that the figures mirrored those provided by his own scrutiny team and that residents should be reassured that they where they live is among the safest areas in the region.

He highlighted violence with injury offences, and pointed out that Leicestershire had the lowest rate per capita in the East Midlands despite this year’s increase in reports.

Lord Bach said: “I know that many people are concerned about crimes, such as violence and sexual violence, burglary, robbery and so on and I’m pleased to see that it is clear that Leicestershire Police is tackling those issues.

“One crime will always be one crime too many so no-one is complacent and the work will continue, even during these particularly challenging times, to prevent crime and arrest criminals.”

ONS reported crime in the Melton Community Safety Partnership area for the year to December 2019 (2018 figure in brackets):

Total crime 2,838 (2,924); violence against person 999 (911); homicide 0 (0); violence with injury 295 (270); violence without injury 424 (420); stalking/harassment 279 (221); sexual offences 73 (112); robbery 13 (13); theft 992 (1,188); burglary 214 (246); residential burglary 141 (157); non-residential burglary 73 (89); vehicle offences 264 (224); theft from person 14 (30); bicycle theft 30 (29); shoplifting 135 (330); all other thefts 335 (329); criminal damage/arson 369 (407); drug offences 47 (34); possession of weapon offences 19 (24); public orders offences 255 (173); miscellaneous other crimes 71 (62).