Southwark sees rise in crime
Southwark has seen a rise in crime rates in the last year.
The number of crimes committed in the borough rose by 1% to 36,190 cases between September 2016 and 2017, compared to the previous 12 months, according to figures released by the Metropolitan Police.
This rise was the fourth biggest for any local authority in England and Wales, behind only Kirklees in West Yorkshire, Swansea, and Windsor and Maidenhead.
Theft rose by 1% to 14,061 cases
Violent crime (against a person) rose by 0.1% to 10,445 cases
Burglary rose by 1.1% to 3,464 cases
Drug-related crime rose by 1% to 2,213 cases
Sexual offences rose by 1.2% to 880 cases
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Huge rise in knife crime, killings and robberies in London
Official figures have revealed a huge rises in knife crime, killings and robbery in London.
The Office for National Statistics said knife offences rose by 23% in the capital during the 12-month period to the end of September last year.
There was also a 19% rise in killings, a 30% increase in robberies and a 14% leap in vehicle thefts or break-ins to vehicles.
The figures also show that around half of the 20% nationwide rise in gun crime was accounted for by offences in London.
Today’s statistics will intensify the row over the future of policing in London.
Mayor Sadiq Khan had accused Home Secretary Amber Rudd of failing to provide enough cash.
She has hit back, calling on the Mayor to focus instead on delivering an effective plan for policing the capital.
Mr Khan said: “These statistics show the terrible repercussions around the country of a Government that has been desperately weak on crime for the last eight years, as well as weak on the causes of crime.
“The Government must urgently increase funding for the police as well as restoring funding for the services that provide alternative paths away from crime, such as youth services, education, probation and mental health services.”
But Conservative London Assembly member Steve O’Connell claimed that Mr Khan bore responsibility for the increases in the capital.
He added: “Despite the Mayor’s blustering about government funding, officer numbers have remained at stable levels for several years.
“Crime, however, is going up across the board under the Mayor’s watch. He can point to national rises, but the research shows offences are disproportionately concentrated in London.
“These figures give further weight to what we already suspected - the Mayor has lost his grip on crime in the capital. We’ve seen knife crime, acid attacks and moped offences spiralling out of control. We can now add an extensive number of crimes to that unwanted list.
“The Mayor now needs to stop pointing fingers at the government. He has the resources and he should get on with the job.”
Tables giving the precise figures show that there were 12,980 knife crimes in London over the 12 months to the end of last September. That was 2,452 more than the equivalent year earlier.
Homicides were up by 21 to 130, although this included the deaths in the Westminster and London Bridge terror attacks.
Robbery offences increased by 6,681 over the year to a new annual total of 28,657.
Vehicle offences, covering thefts and break-ins, were up by 12,552 to just under 100,000.
There were an extra 2,585 burglaries, up four per cent to an annual total of 72,116 such offences.
London MP Vicky Foxcroft, who chairs a Youth Violence Commission, said the figures showed that the Government’s knife crime strategy was failing. “Enough is enough — we need an urgent, united and societal response to address this rising epidemic.”
Crime statistics: Violent crime and sex offences rising
The number of violent crimes and sex offences recorded by police in England and Wales has risen sharply over the past year, figures suggest.
About 5.3 million crimes were recorded in all, up 14%, the Office for National Statistics said.
There were 37,443 knife crimes and 6,694 gun crime offences recorded in the year to September 2017.
The number of offences involving a knife or a sharp instrument had been falling since 2011 but started rising again over the past three years, the ONS said.
There were also increases in vehicle-related theft offences, which were up 18% to 443,577, and burglary, which rose by 8% to 433,110, police data showed.
Analysis: By BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw
Although there's likely to be a dispute about the accuracy of the police crime figures because they hinge, to some extent, on the way forces log offences, how pro-active they are and the willingness of victims to come forward, they clearly demonstrate a rapidly rising caseload.
For example, recorded sexual offences and violent crimes have more than doubled in three years. At the same time, the number of police officers has continued to fall: in the 12 months to last September, down 930 to 121,929. The Home Office says that's the lowest figure since comparable records began in 1996.
That combination - rising crime, declining police numbers - is creating enormous strain for forces. But it's unclear whether the smaller police workforce is contributing to the growth in violent crime, particularly what the ONS says are the "genuine" increases in knife crime and firearm offences.
'Smoke and mirrors'
Police Federation of England and Wales General Secretary Andy Fittes said: "The reality is there are around 21,000 fewer officers than there were in 2010 and they are having to deal with an ever-increasing number of crimes.”
"To say crime has fallen is smoke and mirrors," he added. He added that police officers have "numerous other roles" not covered in today's statistics - such as counter-terrorism, sex offender management, policing football matches and missing person searches.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said: "The independent Office for National Statistics is clear that overall, traditional crime is continuing to fall.
"It is now down by almost 40% since 2010.”
Policing Minister Nick Hurd also said crime had fallen but added the government was "very concerned" about the "uptick in the most serious violent crime”.
He said the government would "redouble efforts" to bear down on the increased through legislation and tougher police enforcement. And also to try to steer young people away from "a culture of violence”.
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said the figures were "truly shocking" and should "put an end to government complacency on crime”.
"The Tories are failing in a basic duty to protect the public," she added.
