Violent crime rises in Hartlepool while sex offences and robberies drop

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that overall 2,803 crimes have been recorded between April and June this year, up 3% from last year.

The Safer Hartlepool Partnership committee will discuss the figures at their meeting on Friday.

But it comes as the number of crimes against people in the area has seen a drop from 2,523 to 2,478 during that time.

The number of sexual offences has dropped almost 30% to 52, while robberies have dropped 22% to 21 and vehicle crime has decreased by 28% to 196.

The number of anti-social behaviour incidents has also dropped 7% to 1,650 for the first quarter of the financial year, while the number of cases of criminal damage and arson dropped by 10% to 347.

However the number of public order offences has increased by 98 to 185 during the period this year, an increase of more than 110%.

Meanwhile the number of crimes involving violence against a person has increased by 148 to 753, a rise of 24.5%.

The figures are to be discussed by the Safer Hartlepool Partnership, which is made up of representatives from the council, police, fire service as well as various housing associations and youth services.

The partnership said in its report for the meeting it will continue to try and reduce crime in the area and stop people reoffending.

A report from council’s director of regeneration and neighbourhoods Denise Ogden said: “The Safer Hartlepool Partnership has a duty…to consider crime and disorder implications within the exercise of its functions.

“This includes the duty to do all it reasonably can to reduce crime and disorder (including anti-social behaviour), the misuse of drugs, alcohol and other substances and re-offending in Hartlepool.

“Failure to deliver these functions could lead to an increase in crime and disorder in Hartlepool.”

The group is also responsible for overseeing the successful delivery of the area’s Community Safety Plan 2017-2020.

The meeting will take place at 10am on Friday at the Civic Centre in Hartlepool.

Nic Marko , Local Democracy Reporting Service