Sex Offences Rise 9% As Overall Crime Falls

Recorded sex offences rose by around a tenth last year, partly because of the investigation sparked by allegations against Jimmy Savile, according to new figures.

Data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) showed overall crime in England and Wales fell 7% to a record low in the year to June.

But the number of sexual offences recorded by police rose by 9%, with records of rape also up by the same figure.

In total, 55,812 sexual offences were committed in England and Wales over the year.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) attributed the rise partly to a "Yewtree effect" as more people come forward to report historical sexual offences.

Yewtree is the name of the national police investigation launched in the wake of claims against disgraced TV presenter Savile.

According to the CSEW, there were about 8.5 million incidents of crime against households and adults, compared to 9.1 million a year earlier.

This is the lowest since the survey began in 1981 and is now less than half its peak level in 1995.

Recorded crime was also down with 3.7 million offences in the year ending June 2013, a decrease of 5% compared with the previous year.

The drop in overall crime comes despite a fall in police numbers across England and Wales, with almost 5,000 fewer officers now on the streets.

Fraud also saw a significant jump in offences with 230,335 recorded cases, a major rise of 21%.

The ONS said the figures should be viewed in the context of a move towards the centralised recording of fraud by police.

There were also increases in personal theft, which was up 8%, and shoplifting, up 1%.

Crime prevention minister Norman Baker said: "Police reform is working and crime is falling.

"England and Wales are safer than they have been for decades but we will continue to deliver measures which keep pace with the changing nature of crime and improve our ability to combat emerging issues."

Tony Lloyd, chairman of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) Board and Greater Manchester PCC, expressed concern about the rise in sexual offences.

"Although some of the recorded increase is related to historical cases, this is a worrying trend and which must be addressed," he said. "There is also a need to offer greater support to the victims of sexual offences.

"Police and Crime Commissioners are very supportive of their local Sexual Assault Referral Centres and other local support services which continue to play an important role in supporting victims.

"We must also work to encourage greater co-ordination between support groups and the police to ensure that victims feel confident to speak out."

Shadow policing minister Jack Dromey said that, while long-terrm reductions in crime levels are continuing, the pace of the reductions is slowing.

"Theresa May is showing a worrying level of complacency and this Government is making it harder, not easier, to tackle crime. It's time this out-of-touch Government came up with a plan rather than sitting on their hands," he said.