Almost half of region unhappy with police as cuts set to deepen

British Crime Survey (BCS) figures reveal people living in Yorkshire have the least confidence in the police of all English regions.

The picture emerged as one of the region’s police forces said it had seen a rise in overall crime for the first time in eight years.

More than 400,000 offences were recorded in Yorkshire during the 12 months to September 2011 – three per cent down on the previous year. But the number of thefts rose by nine per cent and, although house burglaries fell by three per cent, there was a slight rise in break-ins at other properties.

Humberside Police recorded 18 more offences than it did during the previous 12 months, bucking a downward trend which began in 2003-04 and prompting warnings that other forces will follow as budget cuts bite.

Humberside Police Federation chairman Steve Garmston said: “The performance on crime has been good for a number of years, but we are extremely concerned that it is linked to the cuts.

“In the future I cannot see how police officers are going to be able to prevent and detect crime as they have done in the recent past with significantly reduced numbers.” West Yorkshire recorded the highest crime rate in the region, with 85 offences per 1,000 people, followed by Humberside (83), South Yorkshire (77) and North Yorkshire (51).

West Yorkshire Deputy Chief Constable David Crompton said “The safety of people is always our priority and work to tackle violent street offences is paying off.

“Violent crime resulting in injury has fallen by nine per cent and violent crime not involving injury has dropped four per cent.”

Humberside Deputy Chief Constable David Griffin said: “Overall figures have remained fairly stable but there is clearly work to be done to see further reductions at a time when public sector agencies are battling with reduced budgets.”

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