Latest crime figures for Chesterfield show large rise in violent offences

But with no official crime statistics yet published for the coronavirus lockdown period, police chiefs say their own figures show overall crime remains far below normal levels.

Derbyshire Constabulary recorded 3,490 incidents of violent crime in Chesterfield in the 12 months to March, according to the Office for National Statistics.

That was an increase of 77 per cent compared to the previous year.

At 33.4 crimes per 1,000 people, that was higher than the rate across England and Wales, which stood at 29.9.

One of the main factors behind the increase in Chesterfield was the rise in stalking and harassment, which rose by 204 per cent, from 328 incidents to 997.

Offences of violence with injury increased by 9 per cent and violence without injury by 140 per cent, reaching 1,199 and 1,291 respectively.

There were also three homicides, which include murders and manslaughters, up from none in the previous 12 months.

The total number of offences in Chesterfield increased by 40 per cent, with police recording 9,300 crimes over the course of the year.

This puts the overall crime rate at 88.9 per 1,000 people, compared to a national average of 88.9.

Other crimes recorded in Chesterfield included 257 sexual offences, a rise of 24 per cent, 3,037 theft offences, a rise of 12 per cent, 1,053 incidents of criminal damage and arson, up 15 per cent, 294 drug offences, down 12 per cent, 86 possession of weapons such as firearms or knives, up 25 per cent, and 853 public order offences, up 185 per cent.

Responding to the figures, Assistant Chief Constable Kem Mehmet, said: “Derbyshire Constabulary is absolutely committed to providing a quality service to victims of crime. In every decision the victim is at the heart of what we do and every day we work hard to prevent harm, especially to the most vulnerable.

“Pivotal to this is improving the quality and completeness of recorded crime, in line with the National Crime Recording Standards, Home Office Counting Rules and the Code of Ethics. This is to ensure that victims receive appropriate support, safeguarding and resolution.

“Following the publication of the HMICFRS Crime Data Integrity inspection report in 2019, Derbyshire put in place an extensive programme of activity to drive these improvements in recording. As a result of this activity, Derbyshire have recorded significant increases in crime.

“HMICFRS later conducted an interim inspection at Derbyshire Constabulary in October 2019 and deemed that good progress is being made in terms of improving the accuracy of crime recording.

“Whilst regionally there will be differences in increases of recorded crime, this is due to the fact that the inspection programme has taken place over a number of years with Derbyshire being the last to receive it. This means other forces in the region will have shown increases in previous years.

“In the latest crime statistics there is clear evidence of this change – with percentage increases well above those other forces in the region – in particular violence against the person, stalking and harassment, public order sexual offences and robbery which have all seen increases since last June.

“A further reason for the rise in violence and sexual offences is due to greater reporting, and officers and staff knowledge, around crimes linked to domestic abuse. Offences of stalking and harassment are classed as violent offences which will have made up a significant proportion of the rise.

“As a force we have put significant investment in ensuring officers and staff are able to identify domestic abuse, offer support to survivors and provide the appropriate outcome through a combination of safeguarding, diversionary tactics and the criminal justice system.

“With increased knowledge within the force, coupled with much greater awareness from the general public, it is positive to see an increase in a crime type that is known to be under reported.

“Offences involving knives and firearms are of course troubling, but the increase is in line with the national average. That is not to say that we are not tackling these offences.

“As a force we have a nationally recognised knife crime operation in the form of Project Zao which, with the support of partners, shows those most at risk of carrying a knife the realities of knife crime.

“Every day officers work with regional, national and international partners to disrupt the supply of firearms and help find those who are carrying these weapons.

“While recorded offences have increased Derbyshire remains a safe place to live, work and visit and that is clear from the data which shows that the county has the lowest rate of offences per 1,000 people – as well as being someway below the national average.”