A new interactive crime map has revealed part of the North East is more dangerous than nearly anywhere else in England and Wales.
Each police force area is split into smaller community safety partnership areas, which broadly match local authority areas. Crime rates – the number of crimes in each area for every 1,000 people living there – allow for a fairer comparison of the threats to law and order in places with widely different population sizes.
They show that Middlesbrough has the third-highest crime rate in England and Wales, and the highest outside London, with 166 offences for every 1,000 people. That’s the equivalent of one crime report for every six people.
Only two London boroughs, Westminster (434 offences per 1,000 people) and Camden (189), experience a higher crime rate than Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough has the highest rates of residential burglary and criminal damage, the second highest rates of violence against the person and sexual offences, and the third highest rates of weapons possession and public order offences.
District Commander for Middlesbrough, Superintendent Marc Anderson, said: “Cleveland Police is aware of the challenges around crime and antisocial behaviour in Middlesbrough and we’re working hard, alongside partner agencies, to tackle these issues. We know there are high levels of deprivation and unemployment, which influence levels of crime.
“Despite these complex challenges, we have seen significant reductions in crime which have been achieved through the hard work of our officers and our close relationship with key partners.
“This good work is ongoing and has resulted in reductions in crime every month since November 2022 compared to the previous year, excluding the month of August 2024 during disorder in Middlesbrough.”
In the North East, Hartlepool is next with 141 crimes per 1,000 people, and then Newcastle (118).
Northumberland is the safest area in the North East with a rate of 75 crimes per 1,000 population, or one crime for every 13 people.
You can see how it compares to where you live using our interactive map.
National police recorded crime figures show that while homicides fell by four per cent last year, offences involving knives increased by four per cent, and firearms by 19 per cent. There was also a four per cent rise in robbery and a 23 per cent increase in shoplifting.
Supt Anderson said: “In the past 12 months, theft from a person has seen a reduction of 25.1% and violent offences have dropped by 11.5%. Residential burglary has also dropped by 3.3%. Whilst these figures are encouraging, we are not complacent, and we will continue to strive to tackle criminals and protect the communities we serve.
“We have a clear focus on proactivity and our dedicated Middlesbrough Proactive Team carry out regular patrols in key locations and areas identified as hotspots for crime whilst targeting known offenders.
“The Proactive Team’s hard work is clearly having an impact as in 2024, the team made 301 arrests, leading to custodial sentences totalling more than 46 years, with further sentencings scheduled. 247 stop searches were also carried out.
“We have dedicated PCSOs in each district who work as part of our Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs). Together, they work with key partners to address issues like antisocial behaviour and divert young people away from the criminal justice system.
“We know policing alone cannot solve the issue.
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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/north-east-crime-figures-map-30950621
