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18 July, 2019

Commissioner comments on North Yorkshire recorded crime figures

Commenting on today’s recorded crime figures from the Office of National Statistics for the year ending March 2019, Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said:

“I welcome that North Yorkshire remains the safest place in the country, with a crime rate of 55.1  per 1,000 of the population compared to 89.5 per 1,000  across England and Wales. However, there is no getting away from the fact that these figures show an increase in recorded crime year-on-year.

“Some of this was to be expected as part of the changes we are making to ensure we record all crimes accurately and properly. But any rise is worrying and I understand will cause concern. We are taking action to ensure that more visible, local policing addresses any genuine increase in crime. The current recruitment for additional PCSOs, and future recruitment of 50 additional police officers – funded by the precept – is underway. This will boost the presence of North Yorkshire Police on our streets and I hope make a real difference for residents and businesses so they are safer and feel safer too.

“What these figures also do is highlight the need for government not to ignore rural communities when deciding where money is spent. The rise in knife crime in North Yorkshire shows that every part of our country is having to deal with the threat of blades being used as weapons. All too often Ministers give cash to metropolitan and urban areas and forget that we are facing similar challenges here, fuelled, in part, by county lines gangs for whom borders are no barrier. I urge the new Prime Minister and Home Secretary to give rural Britain the attention it deserves when making key decisions that affect us all.”

For more information about the latest crime figures, please go to the Office of National Statistics website:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/crimeinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2019