Crime down 12 per cent across South Yorkshire

REPORTED crime in South Yorkshire dropped by 12 per cent in 2010, new figures show.

There were fewer violence, drug and criminal damage offences compared with 2009

Fraud, forgery, gun and knife crime also fell across the county but theft and handling stolen goods figures rose.

Chf Con Med Hughes said: “While officers and staff have yet again managed to achieve a considerable reduction in crime, these figures need to be understood within a challenging financial climate where job cuts will lead to a reduction in front line effectiveness.

“That said, the reduced level of Government funding announced late last year was expected and I’m confident that our service to the public won’t necessarily decline over the next two years.

“Policing is changing both locally and nationally but we will continue to work hard to tackle the issues that matter to the public and to deliver the service they deserve.”

Figures for the 12 months ending in December show 103,918 crimes reported—13,622 fewer than in 2009.

The headline figures from each category of crime were:

  • Theft and handling stolen goods—up three per cent.
  • House burglaries—down three per cent.
  • Other burglaries—down nine per cent.
  • Drug offences—down 11 per cent.
  • Criminal damage—down 21 per cent.
  • Fraud and forgery—down 29 per cent.
  • Total vehicle crime—down 18 per cent.
  • Total violent crime—down 14 per cent.
  • Gun crime—down seven per cent.
  • Knife crime—down five per cent.