Violent crime is continuing to rise in Cumbria – with attacks leading to people being hurt soaring by nearly 35 per cent.

The county’s crime commissioner Peter McCall has admitted he is worried by the latest statistics, feeding into a general rise in overall offences.

Mr McCall and senior police chiefs pointed to reasons that may have led to the overall rise, including changes to how crimes are reported and a rise in reporting of historic offences.

Mr McCall said: “It is worrying. My attention was drawn to that figure.

“But violence can range from a push to serious injury and I’m pleased to see that the serious end of that figure has gone down.”

Latest figures show that while violence causing all types of injury had risen, cases involving serious harm had dropped.

Mr McCall added the ambition he holds of people having no tolerance for violence would inevitably lead to the figure going up.

“We need to get to the point where people won’t tolerate any type of violence and that will inevitably see a rise in the figures,” added Mr McCall.

In total, crimes committed under the heading ‘violence with injury’ went up 34.4 per cent in the 12 months until June this year.

Violent offences carried out that didn’t involve people getting hurt shot up more than 66 per cent.

The figures show that 535 more violent offences were reported than in the previous 12-month period.

Overall there was an almost four per cent rise in all crimes, representing almost 1,000 extra offences.

There were rises in areas such as sexual offences and hate crime.

However, the force has had success in lowering the number of anti-social behaviour incidents during that time period.

Mr McCall was also keen to point out that the force has had a drive to encourage victims of crime, including ‘historic’ ones, to come forward and report offences, which in turn could have an effect on overall numbers.

“I keep making this point that we must not shy away from the figures and if they go up we must confront that.

“Of course it’s a concern because I want crime to be going down and I think that’s what the public want as well,” the commissioner added.

“But, like all statistics, you have to get into the detail and work out what this means.”


Darren Martland Assistant Chief Constable Darren Martland said the county still continues to have “low levels of crime” and a “proven record of bringing offenders to justice”

He added: “The increase in crimes is in line with the national trend.”

Mr Martland said the rise was partially attributable to greater compliance with recording standards and new technicalities.

He added: “There has also been rises in reports of historically under-reported offences such as hate crime, rape and other sexual offences, which the constabulary has placed an emphasis in recent years on encouraging victims to report.

“It is important that victims of such crimes feel confident in reporting incidents to the constabulary so we can conduct a thorough and professional investigation.”

Mr Martland, one of the force’s most senior officers, also wanted to remind people that Cumbria is a safe place to live, work and visit.

“This is testament to the positive work officers and staff conduct on a daily basis,” he added. “In the past year alone, the constabulary has delivered a large amount of organisational change, rolled out mobile working and successfully managed unprecedented levels of flooding across Cumbria.

“All of this has been achieved while crime figures remain at a low level.”