(Image: WMP)
There has been an increase in recorded murders and manslaughters in Birmingham over the last year, reflecting the national rise in killings.
There were 20 homicides – murders or manslaughters – between July 2017 and June 2018, according to the Office for National Statistics’ police recorded crime data.
That’s up from 12 incidents over the previous 12 months.
The statistics are based on crimes reported to the police, and the ONS urges caution in interpreting some of these figures.
Some offences go unreported while others may be more numerous due to a change in the focus of the police or greater public attention.
However the ONS said that, along with weapons offences, the number of stabbings and killings has genuinely gone up.
Across England and Wales, the number of recorded homicides rose by 14%, reflecting an “upward trend” since 2014. These figures excluded people who died in terror attacks.
There was a 9% increase in offences with knives or sharp objects, leading to the the highest number of incidents since March 2011, when comparable records started.
Joe Traynor, from the ONS Centre for Crime and Justice, said: “Over recent decades, we’ve seen continued falls in overall levels of crime but in the last year the trend has been more stable.
“We saw rises in some types of theft and in some lower-volume but higher-harm types of violence.”
Overall, police recorded crime in Birmingham increased between July 2017 and June 2018.
During the last year, 102,603 crimes were recorded, up by 9% on 2016-17.
That means there was a rate of 90 crimes per 1,000 residents during 2017-18, above the England and Wales average of 84.
Gun and knife possession offences in Birmingham rose by 131 to 947 incidents.
There were 8,884 residential burglaries reported in Birmingham. Due to a change in how the ONS categorises burglaries, the localised figures cannot be compared with other years. There were 16 cases of death or injury by dangerous driving.
Theft, one of the most high volume crimes, increased by 9%. Drugs related offences rose by 10%.
Commenting on the national figures, Chief Constable Bill Skelly, of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: “Rising crime is placing greater demand on policing, as forces strive to reduce crime as well as respond to a growing terrorist threat.
“There are also more calls from the public for help, including responding to people in crisis when other agencies lack their own capacity.”
Mr Skelly said the gap in numbers between reported crimes and criminals being charged is a “real concern for us”.
“The upcoming spending review is a crucial opportunity for the Government and police leaders to come to a consensus about police demand, our capabilities to meet it and the funding required,” he added.
Criminal damage in Birmingham, which includes arson and vandalising cars and houses, has gone down, from 10,802 incidents in 2016-17, to 10,590 in the latest figures.
While violence with injury, which includes assault, GBH and wounding, has risen, this could just be due to improved police recording as opposed to an increase in incidents.
Similarly sexual crime statistics are hard to judge as many more victims are now coming forward due to a series of high profile cases.
In Birmingham there were 2,895 incidents recorded between July 2017 and June 2018, a 21% rise on the previous year, when 2,400 crimes were reported.
There were also 4,797 cases of stalking and harassment reported over the same period.
John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation for England and Wales, commented: “It didn’t take a crystal ball to predict these shocking increases because they only reflect what we have been telling the Government for years – we need more boots on the ground.”
Labour described the ONS statistics as “truly shocking” and accused the Tories of “failing in their duty to protect the public and keep our citizens safe”.
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said: “These figures are a tragic indictment of this Tory government’s policies.”
Policing Minister Nick Hurd said: “This Government is determined to tackle all types of crime – and although the chance of being a victim remains low, we are taking decisive action in a number of areas.
The Government announced a £200 million Youth Endowment Fund to support “young people at risk of involvement in crime”.
Mr Hurd added: “On top of this, we are consulting on a public health approach to serious violence and giving police extra powers to tackle knife crime through our Offensive Weapons Bill.”
