PCC welcomes 9.4% reduction in police recorded crime

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has welcomed new crime figures showing a 9.4% reduction in recorded crime in Durham – significantly better the national average.

The figures, released by the government, show 60,450 crimes were recorded in the 12 months up to December 2024 compared to 66,706 in 2023 (-9.4%). The average reduction for police recorded crime for England and Wales during the same period was -2%.

Other data shows the sweeping progress being made against the public’s priorities, as outlined in the PCC’s recently published Police, Crime and Justice Plan.

Violence Against the Person offences fell-13.8% in the 12 months up to December 2024, while sexual offences reduced by 5%.

Theft offences (including burglary, bicycle theft, theft from the person and vehicle offences) have reduced by 1.3% while drug offences – a top concern by residents – have fallen by -4.6% and public order offences by -27.4%.

The data captures offences recorded bythe police and does not include those offences which occur but have not been reported. For this reason, violent crime figures are more reflective of police activity rather than of crime trends.  

Safer Neighbourhoods features as one of six pillars in the PCC’s new Police, Crime and Justice Plan, and the Commissioner has made clear her determination to deliver strong, robust and visible neighbourhood policing across the force area to tackle the issues that matter most to residents and businesses.

Among her many commitments is a pledge to maximise opportunities to seize drugs and improve drug-related neighbourhood crime and ASB and to ensure policing activities within neighbourhoods are targeted to the needs of different communities and take account of threat, risk, harm and vulnerability.

In other commitments, the PCC has pledged to increase the number of sexual offences brought to court or resolved successfully and Durham is the best performing force in terms of outcome for rape and serious sexual offences.

Meanwhile, figures from the Crime Survey for England and Wales show that 79.7% of those surveyed feel the police in the Durham force area can be trusted; and 66.6% said the police would treat them fairly.  The Durham force ranks number one for trust, and number two for fairness compared to the other forces in England and Wales.

Welcoming the data, Commissioner Joy Allen said: “These figures give us an insight into the outstanding proactive work being undertaken by our neighbourhood policing teams to tackle the crimes that cause fear and misery for our communities.

“Across the force area, officers are working closely with partners to detect crime, bring offenders to justice and, where necessary, to signpost offenders to services that can break the cycle of offending. This is especially important for those offenders who have drug and alcohol issues which is why I welcome the proposed expansion of police powers to drug test more suspects on arrest and help direct more users into treatment services.

“I applaud our officers, staff and volunteers for their relentless efforts to disrupt the activities that bring misery to our communities. I would also like to thank the Chief Constable for her ongoing commitment to neighbourhood policing.

“Not only are crime rates falling but we are also seeing significant improvements in call-handling thanks to substantial investment. This is ensuring residents receive a swift and effective service when they call for assistance – all of which is vital for increasing confidence and trust in policing and helping people to feel safer.”

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