New figures reveal that crime has fallen across Northumbria – continuing the trend seen over the past 12 months.

With the region in lockdown earlier this year, crime fell at an even sharper rate than previously seen, with over 6,000 fewer crimes recorded following the first national lockdown.

Now, Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, has praised a combination of proactive police work and a dedicated violence reduction unit for operating throughout the lockdown, taking advantage of the restrictions to target criminals and keep crime down.

The latest data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows a further 13 per cent reduction in total recorded crime – showing a continued fall over the 12-month reporting period from June 2019 to June 2020.

And as well as a fall in overall crime, Northumbria saw knife crime, drug offences and violence against the person all fall.

Explaining the data, Ms. McGuinness said: “Despite the challenges brought upon the force by Covid-19, we have continued to fight and prevent crime.

“While it is understandable that certain crimes have fallen during this period, this cannot just be attributed to Covid. For example, knife crime had been on the decrease since before the lockdown measures and now, as of June 2020, has fallen by 17 per cent – a reflection on the work we are doing to fight crime. Whilst one knife is still too many on our streets, it is extremely pleasing to see the impact we’ve made and this will continue.”

A notable increase was recorded in anti-social behaviour, peaking between April and June 2020, where it rose by 101 per cent against the same period last year.

However, the commissioner has moved to reassure residents that tackling the issue is a priority for the force and communities concerns’ are being heard.

In response to the increase in ASB, the commissioner has allocated over £135,000 to support some of the region’s smaller charities recover from the impact of the lockdown and resume their much-needed youth services for vulnerable young people.