Crime figures up across West Midlands as police budgets hit
Recorded crimes across the West Midlands are up by as much as nine per cent for some offences, amid multi-million pound budget cuts.
Targets for cutting certain crimes including violent attacks, some robberies, burglaries at homes and crimes at businesses across the region have been missed, latest figures show today.
Violent offences are up nine per cent for the financial year to date, against a target of an eight per cent reduction.
Overall total recorded crimes are up 2.5 per cent year on year.
The figure is up to 77,842 for the financial year so far, up from 75,999 for the same period in 2012/13.
A target of a five per cent reduction in recorded offences had been set in the police and crime plan by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Bob Jones.
Bosses today claimed the surge in figures was down to more people reporting crimes, more reports of hate crime and domestic violence and pro-active policing.
But Mr Jones said he was concerned that financial pressures were impacting on the force, which must find £121 million worth of cuts between 2011 and 2015 to balance the books.
"These figures come not through a lack of effort or inventiveness and innovation from our officers," Mr Jones said.
"We have a high level of demand but the fact is we don't have the same level of resources."
There have been 8,867 violent attacks this financial year to date. This was up nine per cent from 8,135 in 2012/13. The force had set a target of an eight per cent reduction.
Burglaries at homes have fallen by just over three per cent from 5,439 to 5,269.
Business crime is up 3.5 per cent year to date, missing the force's target of a six per cent reduction.
