Recorded crime in West Mercia is decreasing year on year, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The figures from ONS show reductions in violence with injury, drugs offences, burglary, robbery, sexual offences, public order, vehicle offences and theft. Contrary to the national trend, cyber crime offences have fallen in West Mercia and there are low numbers of offences involving knives and other bladed weapons.

West Mercia police and crime commissioner John Campion said “I made a commitment to reform West Mercia Police and the latest crime figures show this approach is working.

“West Mercia is a place where people are safe and feel safe, and it is reassuring to see a decrease in the types of crimes which affect our communities the most.

"I will continue to ensure the police can continue to work efficiently and effectively to tackle these.”

The ONS compares total recorded crime for the year ending September 2018 to the previous year. The following areas have seen decreases in recorded crime: Sexual offences (Down four per cent), Violence with Injury (Down nine per cent), Robbery (Down 10 per cent), Theft (Down 1.4 per cent), Burglary (Down eight per cent), Non-residential burglary (Down 70 per cent), Vehicle offences (Down 5.3 per cent), Drug offences (Down 21 per cent) Public order (Down 15 per cent) and Cyber crime (Down two per cent).

In the year ending September 2018, there were 448 offences involving a knife in West Mercia, equating to three per cent of offences. The national average is six per cent.

The ONS figures also show that violence against the person, violence without injury, stalking and harrassment, theft, shoplifting and possession of weapons have all risen since September 2017. Theft saw the biggest increase, going up by 37 per cent.