Tens of thousands of crimes recorded in Stockport

Tens of thousands of crimes were recorded in Stockport over the last year, official police records reveal.

Greater Manchester Police recorded 25,935 offences in Stockport in the 12 months to June, according to the Office for National Statistics.

At 88.2 crimes per 1,000 people, that was lower than the rate across England and Wales, which stood at 91.3.

This is only the second time Greater Manchester Police have been able to supply data at community safety partnership level since its implementation of a new IT system in July 2019 – meaning no comparison to the year before is possible.

Crimes recorded in Stockport included:

857 sexual offences9,370 violent offences2,764 incidents of criminal damage and arson419 drug offences264 possession of weapons such as firearms or knives3,632 public order offences7,705 theft offences3,413 stalking and harassment offences

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 Stockport over the last 12 months, 857 were sexual offences – an increase of 18% from the year before.

Meanwhile, violent crime has risen in the area, from 8,522 to 9,370 over this period.

One of the main factors behind this increase was the rise in violence without injury, which rose by 11%, from 3,366 incidents to 3,725.

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

The number has nearly doubled in just over six years, from 36,321 in 2015-16.

Reacting to the figures, Diana Fawcett, chief executive at the charity Victim Support, said: “This huge increase in sexual violence, in particular rape, reported to the police is seriously alarming and a stark reminder that the government needs to get a grip on staggeringly low conviction rates and horrendous court delays.

Nationally, domestic-abuse related offences totalled 912,181 in the year to June, up 6% on the previous 12 months and up 14% in 2019-20.

Some of this increase “may reflect improvements seen in recording and reporting over the last few years,” the ONS added.

And theft offences in Stockport rose by 8%, with 7,705 incidents recorded in the 12 months to June.

At 26.2 crimes per 1,000 people, that was in line with the rate across England and Wales, which stood at 26.5.

Crimes recorded in Stockport included:

857 sexual offences9,370 violent offences2,764 incidents of criminal damage and arson419 drug offences264 possession of weapons such as firearms or knives3,632 public order offences7,705 theft offences3,413 stalking and harassment offences

A Home Office spokesperson said: “It is good to see an 8% 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,” they added.