Crime on the up across West Midlands and Staffordshire
Crime across the West Midlands has increased again, with thousands more offences being committed.
There were a total of 244,527 crimes (excluding fraud) committed in the region in the year ending September 2018, an increase of 10 per cent on the previous year.
The figures, released by the Home Office, paint a bleak picture for West Midlands Police as every major crime in the region has increased year on year, with only bicycle theft, shoplifting and criminal damage going down.
The number of violent, sexual and weapons offences are up by more than 20 per cent.
The force says the figures show the desperate need for more government funding, but critics have called on the police to be more efficient and described the rise in crime as 'very concerning'.
