NEW police data shows how the pandemic has affected crimes rates for some of the most serious offences in Bracknell Forest.
The figures cover the period from 1 April to 31 August 2020, when lockdown was introduced and gradually eased.
READ MORE: Police swarm Bracknell Town FC ground after criminal damage reported
They are set to be presented to Bracknell Forest councillors at a meeting next week (Tuesday, October 13).
What went up?
Thames Valley Police (TVP) figures indicate incidents of violence against a person increased by 17 per cent (167 cases) from April 2020 to August 2020 when measured against the same period last year.
Knife crime also went up year on year, although only marginally with an additional five offences recorded.
This has not stopped police from warning that people are using knives during more violent crimes, however.
And this comes after police gained powers to stop and search residents in Sandhurst and Crowthorne following reports of fights involving weapons in the south of Bracknell Forest.
READ MORE: Stop and search orders extended in Sandhurst and Crowthorne
Domestic violence crimes also shot up, with a 37 per cent increase recorded during the lockdown months.
In total, 461 cases were noted compared to 336 in the same period in 2019.
TVP says the increase is in line with Thames Valley increases but domestic abuse is still the biggest crime the forces faces in Bracknell.
Anti-social behaviour also surged, with 69 extra cases logged in 2020 compared to 2019 — a 12 per cent increase on last year’s 584 total.
READ MORE: Police given new powers to curb street drinking in Bracknell
Many of these ASB cases were due to coronavirus breaches during lockdown, TVP says, although figures for Berkshire and Thames Valley both fell.
What went down?
It’s not all bad news, though.
A number of crime rates went down during lockdown, with the biggest fall coming in the ‘theft from a motor vehicle’ department.
From April to August 2020, 86 fewer crimes were recorded against the same period in the previous year (a dip of 48 per cent)
READ MORE: Police respond to report of burglary from white van
TVP puts this drop down to proactive crime prevention work with tradesmen, hotels and site managers, as most often tools are taken from vans at construction sites or hotels.
Sexual offences also fell 13 per cent in 2020 compared to 2019.
Finally, residential burglaries also declined.
48 offences were recorded from April to August 2020, against 57 noted in the same period in 2019 (a 16 per cent fall).
How are police and partners aiming to further reduce these numbers?
The Community Safety Partnership, which is made up of the council, the police, fire, the NHS and the national probation service, has five priorities for the year ahead.
They are:
- Tackle the exploitation of children, young people and vulnerable adults
- Reduce incidents of serious violence, sexual offences, and knife crime
- Work with communities to deal with crime and anti-social behaviour hotspots (including drug-related crime)
- Reduce harm caused by domestic abuse
- Reduce incidents of residential burglary and theft from vehicles
Councillors will challenge the CSP’s work at the meeting next week.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here