Rise in reported rape and domestic abuse incidents in Aylesbury Vale

The figure has risen for the first time in 10 years and increases in reports of rape and domestic abuse have been noted.

The force says that greater professional curiosity, increased confidence in reporting to police, significant improvements in recording practices and more people living in Aylesbury Vale have all contributed to sharp statistical rises in crimes recorded across most crime types.

Yet steady levels of demand from the public and the day-to-day experiences of police officers in communities indicate crime levels remain consistent in the area.

Over ten years violent crime has changed by 2.8 per cent from 2,075 in 2005/6 to 2,135 in 2015/6 despite a statistical rise of 41 per cent in recording in the most recent 12 month period with 1,519 in 2014/5.

Reports of sexual offences, including rape, rose 20.1 per cent from 309 in 2014/5 to 371 in 2015/6.

Reports of domestic abuse have increased 35.8 per cent from 720 in 2014/5 to 978 in 2015/6.

Burglary is a crime type which traditionally sees good standards of reporting and recording.

In Aylesbury Vale burglary has reached a 42 year low with reports falling by 12.2 per cent with a total of 35 fewer households experiencing domestic burglaries with 251 in 2015/6 compare to 286 in 2014/5.

The number of crimes reported to police in Aylesbury Vale is 22.8 per cent down on ten years ago when 11,520 crimes were reported in 2005/6 despite a 16.2 per cent statistical rise from 7,651 in 2014/5 to 8,887 in 2015/6.

Local Police Area Commander Superintendent Olly Wright said: “Whilst recorded crime has increased, it is broadly in line with what has been happening across the rest of the Thames Valley and country as a result of the changes to crime recording practices. Levels of crime still compare favourably with elsewhere.

“We closely monitor our crime figures throughout the year to ensure that we are responding appropriately to areas of most harm and demand, and can identify developing trends and provide resources accordingly. We continue to focus on those crimes of most concern to communities, and those which cause the most harm.

“I’m encouraged that more victims of sexual offences, hate crime and domestic violence are having the confidence to talk to us about crimes , even if when they have happened sometime in the past.

“Changes to recording practices can make it hard to draw like for like comparisons to previous years,. A good indicator of the true level of crime remaining relatively low is the fact that the number of calls for service have declined.

“Our primary focus must always be protecting those most vulnerable from offences such as domestic violence, sexual offences including CSE and hate crime.”