Violence up as lockdown sparks Hartlepool crime figures drop

Violence offences rose in Hartlepool despite the pandemic lockdown driving down crime figures

The overall crime fall is being attributed changes in society while coronavirus restrictions were in place – leading to most types of crime plummeting nationally in the 12 months to June, although drug offences rose by nearly a third during lockdown.

The Office for National Statistics say Cleveland Police recorded 4,132 incidents of violent crime in Hartlepool in the 12 months to June – an increase of six per cent on the previous year.

One of the main factors behind the increase was the rise in violence without injury, which rose by 18%, from 1,366 incidents to 1,611.

The total number of offences in Hartlepool fell by three per cent, with police recording 11,856 crimes.

Other crimes recorded in Hartlepool included:

*306 sexual offences, up four per cent.

*3,902 theft offences, down 20%.

*378 drug offences, up 29%.

*114 possession of weapons such as firearms or knives, up 16%.

*977 public order offences, up 33%.

Overall, police recorded four per cent fewer crimes across England and Wales, with around 5.8 million offences recorded in the year to June.

The fall was driven by a reduction in crime between April and June when national lockdown restrictions were in place. Robberies saw the most noticeable drop during this period (47%), while theft offences fell by 43%.

In contrast, drug crimes soared by 30% over the three months.

Billy Gazard, from the ONS centre for crime and justice, said the drop in crime over the year could mainly be put down to changes during the coronavirus lockdown, but said police recording of drug offences “increased sharply throughout the April to June period, reflecting proactive police activity as overall crime levels reduced”.

John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: "Although crime fell during the pandemic the pressure on the police remained.

"Policing had to adapt to a situation unlike anything we had experienced before and continues to do so even as the national lockdown was lifted and crime returned to pre-lockdown levels.

"That pressure has increased with local lockdowns being rolled out.”