The latest Crime in England and Wales data from the Office for National Statistics makes interesting reading, particularly the reference to an increase in “offences committed on mopeds”.
The figures, year ending September 2017, show that police-recorded vehicle offences showed increases by 18%, continuing the rising trend seen over the past two years. There were increases in both theft of vehicles (up by 22% to 100,828 recorded offences) and theft from vehicles (up by 15% to 276,823 recorded offences). “However, these volume rises are relatively small in the context of the longer-term reduction seen in most of these offences.”
The report continues: “Recent rises are also evident in the number of motor insurance claims relating to theft. While the recent rises have not previously been reflected in the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) there are some signs that increases in vehicle-related thefts are beginning to appear in the latest survey estimates. Further changes are expected to feed through into future CSEW estimates.”
On robbery, the report says the offence is “disproportionally concentrated in London and other larger cities”.
The report says: “In the latest year, and similar to previous years, London accounted for 42% of all police recorded robbery in England and Wales, compared with 17% across all crime types (excluding fraud). Data published by the Metropolitan Police suggests that in recent years robberies and thefts committed on mopeds have increased across London. Often the mopeds used to facilitate snatch thefts and robberies are also stolen; these vehicles have no or limited security, are less likely to have immobilisers and therefore become an easier target for thieves. It is thought that the increase in these types of crimes is a contributing factor to the rise seen in vehicle-related thefts, theft from the person and robbery offences.”