CRIME has risen over the last year in Cheshire East and West, official police records reveal, most noticeably for possession of weapons and sexual offences.

Cheshire Constabulary recorded 22,207 offences in Cheshire East in the 12 months to June, and 27,985 in Cheshire West and Chester, according to the Office for National Statistics.

That was an increase of one percent in Cheshire East compared to the previous year, and an increase of two per cent in Cheshire West.

The figures come as a victim support group says ‘women deserve better’ after a sharp rise in violent and sexual offences led to a record high for police-recorded crime in England and Wales.

Of the crimes recorded in Cheshire East over the last 12 months, 907 were sexual offences – an increase of 16 per cent from the year before.

Meanwhile, violent crime has risen in the area, from 9,910 to 10,036 over this period.

Of the crimes recorded in Cheshire West, 1,129 were sexual offences – an increase of 15 per cent from the year before.

And violent crime has risen in the area, from 12,672 to 13,090.

Across England and Wales there were 70,600 rape offences recorded in the year to June, another record high and an increase of 20 per cent from 59,046 in 2019-20.

The number has nearly doubled in just over six years.

Crimes recorded in Cheshire East included:

  • 907 sexual offences, a rise of 16 per cent
  • 10,036 violent offences, a rise of one per cent
  • 1,998 incidents of criminal damage and arson, up two per cent
  • 373 drug offences, down 19 per cent
  • 106 possession of weapons such as firearms or knives, up 36 per cent
  • 3,390 public order offences, down seven per cent
  • 4,913 theft offences, a rise of five per cent
  • 4,006 stalking and harassment offences, down seven per cent

Crimes recorded in Cheshire West and Chester included:

  • 1,129 sexual offences, a rise of 15 per cent
  • 13,090 violent offences, a rise of three per cent
  • 2,533 incidents of criminal damage and arson, down three per cent
  • 533 drug offences, down 13 per cent
  • 117 possession of weapons such as firearms or knives, up 30 per cent
  • 4,669 public order offences, down six per cent
  • 5,334 theft offences, a rise of 13 per cent
  • 5,317 stalking and harassment offences, down seven per cent

A Home Office spokesperson said: “It is good to see an eight per cent rise in the volume of charges for rape offences. However, the volume of rapes and sexual offences is very concerning.

“Some of the increase in reporting can be attributed to more victims coming forward, and we welcome that, as these crimes can all too often be hidden."

“We need the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to do more and raise the bar, so that victims know they will be taken seriously and the criminals responsible are put behind bars,” they added.

The Home Office said it was glad to see an increase in the number of charges for sexual offences but was concerned by the rising number of offences.

A spokesperson said: “Some of the increase in reporting can be attributed to more victims coming forward, and we welcome that, as these crimes can all too often be hidden.

“We need the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to do more and raise the bar, so that victims know they will be taken seriously and the criminals responsible are put behind bars.”

Chief constable Mark Roberts from Cheshire Police said: “Whilst any increase in crime can be a cause for concern it is important to understand the background to the rise.

“The increase in identifying people carrying weapons reflects our increased proactivity in terms of stop and search with almost 2,500 stop and searches recorded in April to June 2022, up almost 90 per cent on the same period last year – nearly 500 of these related to searches for offensive weapons, almost 150 per cent more than in the same period last year.

“I also want to make it explicitly clear that we will support and respect victims of sexual assault and rape offences when reporting any incidents to us – and of course, will do all we can to bring offenders to justice, ensuring that they face the full force of the law.

“We have bolstered our support for victims by investing in ground-breaking technology such as GoodSAM, a mobile digital forensic unit and a new online reporting form for victims of sexual offences and harassment – we hope that this encourages victims to come forward when perhaps, they may not have previously had the confidence to do so.

“Based on the latest nationally published crime outcomes for the period April to June 2022, Cheshire has the highest charge rate in the country for all crime, violence against the person and stalking and harassment and third highest for sexual offences and rape.

“We will continue to make Cheshire an even safer place and relentlessly tackle crime, doing all we can to bring perpetrators to justice.”