Robbery, sexual offences and violent crimes in Avon and Somerset increased sharply in 2014, according to the latest figures from the Office For National Statistics (ONS).

Overall crime rates in 2014 increased by two per cent when compared with 2013, with large falls in drug offences (28 per cent down) and weapons possesion (28% down) recorded.

Sexual offences rose by 16 per cent, less than the national average, however robberies increased by 15 per cent, against a national fall in robberies of 13 per cent and violence against person increased by 19%.

The crime statistics show that criminal damage fell by 5%; shoplifting increased by 5%; bike theft increased by 4%; vehicle offences increased by 3%; thef offences increased by 3%

 

Latest figures from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) showed that, for the offences it covers, there were an estimated 6.9 million incidents of crime against households and resident adults (aged 16 and over) in England and Wales.

This is a seven per cent decrease compared with the previous year’s survey, and the lowest estimate since the CSEW began in 1981.

The CSEW covers a broad range of victim based crimes and includes crimes which do not come to the attention of the police.