Figures for crime hit by Savile probe and 
phone theft

Last year saw 39,784 fewer offences reported to forces across Yorkshire and the Humber than the previous year.

The statistics include the 214 sexual offences recorded in relation to Operation Yewtree, the police investigation associated with disgraced presenter Jimmy Savile.

An Office of National Statistics spokesman said that the Yewtree investigation was likely to be a factor in a 20 per cent rise in the number of sexual offences recorded in West Yorkshire in 2012 compared to the previous year and an eight per cent increase in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

However, despite this, there was a three per cent fall in overall recorded sexual offences across England and Wales.

The ONS said the so-called Yewtree effect, which may result in more victims coming forward to report historical sexual abuse, may also impact on future figures.

Nationally pick-pocketing is on the rise as thieves increasingly target smartphones.

The number of police-recorded instances of “theft from the person” rose eight per cent in the year to December 2012, which represents a speeding-up of recent increases.

The ONS said anecdotal evidence suggested this is in part driven by smartphone theft, including the “phenomena” of bike riders stealing phones from people’s hands.

Meanwhile, the estimated level of crime in England and Wales fell by five per cent to 8.9 million crimes against adults in the year to December 2012, while the total number of police-recorded crimes fell eight per cent to 3.7 million in the same period.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “One of the uncelebrated achievements of this government and of the country in recent years has been the consistent fall in crime. It’s also a huge tribute to the police who are obviously coping with difficult savings in the way in which the police are run.”

The total number of incidents in the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) is estimated to have fallen by 19 per cent compared with the 2006/07 survey, the ONS said.

In addition, the survey estimated that there were 900,000 crimes against children aged 10 to 15 in 2012.

Deputy chief constable Jeff Farrar, Association of Chief Police Officers lead for crime and statistics, said: “The statistics released today reflect the efforts of our workforce in doing all they can to protect communities from harm. Disappointingly, police recorded data shows that theft from the person has increased by eight per cent in the last year. The major driver for the increase is the rising number of mobile phone thefts.”

In the 12 months up to December 2012 compared to the previous year, crime was down by 10 per cent in North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire; seven per cent in South Yorkshire and 14 per cent in Humberside Police’s area. Fraud and forgery rose in Humberside Police’s area by 11 per cent while criminal damage fell by a fifth. In North Yorkshire fraud and forgery increased by 21 per cent with 221 more incidents dealt with – 1,280 in total.

Separate up-to-date Home Office data yesterday ranked North Yorkshire the lowest crime area in England.

Up to December the area boasted the second lowest crime rate in England.