Drug offences up 35 per cent in South Yorkshire, new crime figures show

DRUGS offences in South Yorkshire were up 35 per cent last year, new crime statistics have shown.

The overall data — showing a two per cent rise regionally — was described a mixed picture by police commissioner Dr Alan Billings.

Knife crime in South Yorkshire was down two per cent, compared to rises elsewhere in the country.

Theft and arson reduced by two and five percent in the region, figures published by the Office for National Statistics for the year ending December 2019 have shown.

Dr Billings said: “Although crime overall in South Yorkshire has increased slightly by two per cent for the year ending 2019, this is half the national figure of four per cent, and there are some welcome results in some areas.

“The picture is a mixed one and care needs to be taken in interpreting the statistics.

For instance, drug offences have increased by 35 per cent, but this means that the police have been more pro-active in catching those who deal drugs.

i“Although some serious crimes have increased in South Yorkshire, the rate of increase has been much lower here. Stalking and harassment rose by five per cent, but nationally by 20 per cent. Robbery increased by two per cent, but by 12 per cent nationally.”

He added: “Crime figures will always rise and fall, the important thing is to understand the longer-term trends.”