Violent crime has gone up by almost nine per cent in the West Midlands – amid fears that police are struggling to cope with mounting cuts.
Figures from the revealed offences involving violence with injury were up 8.7 per cent in the year to date – despite the organisation targeting an eight per cent cut in such crimes.
The statistic was part of a gloomy overall picture for West Midlands Police.
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In a report presented to the force’s strategic policing and crime board, the force conceded it failed to hit any of its own milestone targets over the summer months.
Overall crime was 2.6 per cent up in the year to date and July’s figure was up 5.9 per cent on the same month last year.
Business crime also went up by 2.9 per cent in the year to date.
Home break-ins were down 4.6 per cent on the previous year but even that figure was still well short of the force’s targeted eight per cent reduction.
An exclusive Mail investigation first revealed in July that crime was increasing, just three months after the force said offending levels had fallen by 12 per cent in the previous year.
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We obtained new figures which showed overall offences had risen by 2.5 per cent from April to July 15, compared to the same period in 2012.
Police also confirmed the ‘most serious violence’ was up by 2.3 per cent – a figure which has now accelerated to almost nine per cent.
The force has been hit with cuts totalling £126million.
And in June the chancellor demanded another £27million of cuts, which police and crime commissioner Bob Jones said could add up to the loss of 1,700 officers over five years
Ian Edwards, chairman of the West Midlands branch of the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said his body had consistently warned that major cuts would lead to rising crime.
“There is no denying there has been a change – the big question is whether it is going to continue,” he said.
“The force will always say they are coming from a low base figure, but we have been running on low levels of staff for some time now.
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“And if the crime figures continue to go up, I suspect the cuts will be a major cause because we can only run at 100 per cent for so long.
“We have predicted for some time there would be problems ahead – but I hope that’s not the case.
“Our officers consistently tell us they are starting to suffer from burnout and have been running from job to job.
“All the data and all the feedback we have collected from officers is that they are struggling to cope. The real worry is that we are not even at the end of the cuts and more are on the way.”
West Midlands Police’s deputy chief constable Dave Thompson, admitted the force had faced a “very challenging” month in July, dealing with explosions at mosques in the Black Country and an English Defence League rally in Birmingham city centre.
“July has been a very challenging month,” Mr Thompson said.
“Call demand increased from June 2013, which was the highest increase in call demand in a single month since December 2011.
“This must be seen in the context of very low crime levels last year and major events across the force area this year, such as very warm summer, the mosque bombings, and the EDL demonstration and associated counter-protests.
“The increase in demand has led to a slight rise in total crime fuelled by more incidents of violence and hate crime.
“Despite this, crimes which people tell us have the greatest impact on their day-to-day lives continue to be driven down.
“For instance, robbery rates are also lower now compared to last year and burglary is at the lowest levels in a decade.
“We are not complacent about the current rise – no matter how slight. Our officers are working day and night to target offenders and are determined to keep those we serve safe.”
The figures at a glance:
Business crime up 2.9 per cent in the year year to date
Total recorded crime up 2.6 per cent in the year to date
Total recorded crime in July up 5.9 per cent on the same month in 2012
Violent crime up 8.7 per cent in the year to date