Crime has fallen over the last year in Bradford, official police records reveal.

West Yorkshire Police recorded 69,441 offences in Bradford in the 12 months to September, according to the Office for National Statistics.

That was a decrease of 6% compared to the previous year, when there were 74,028.

At 129 crimes per 1,000 people, that was far higher than the rate across England and Wales, which stood at 83.

Crimes recorded in Bradford included:

  • 2,015 sexual offences, a decrease of 10%
  • 28,819 violent offences, up 1%
  • 7,271 incidents of criminal damage and arson, down 8%
  • 2,613 drug offences, up 37%
  • 507 possession of weapons such as firearms or knives, down 5%
  • 8,492 public order offences, up 10%
  • 16,809 theft offences, down 24%

Overall, police recorded 6% fewer crimes across England and Wales – there were around 5.7 million offences in the year to September.

The ONS said this was driven by substantial falls in the three months to June, particularly in theft offences.

But separate figures from its Crime Survey for England and Wales show the estimated number of victims of crime in the three months to September were similar to levels seen in the run-up to the pandemic.

West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable John Robins QPM, said: “I am really pleased that we continue to record reductions in crime which means fewer victims.

“I would like to commend officers, police staff and volunteers as well as our partners who continue to work tirelessly to tackle crime and safeguard vulnerable people.

“While the recent lockdowns have resulted in fewer crimes being committed, crime in West Yorkshire was already on a downward trend prior to the pandemic with reductions recorded in the year up to March 2020.

“Our communities can be reassured that this is a true picture of crime – the Force was in fact assessed by HMICFRS Inspectors as ‘Outstanding’ for the way it records crime and said that victims are at the forefront of our crime-recording arrangements.

“The ongoing pandemic continues to impact on us all, but our communities can be reassured that West Yorkshire Police is working around the clock to keep people safe and feeling safer.”

“Despite the very real health risk to themselves and their families, everyday police officers and staff across West Yorkshire have continued to put themselves in harm’s way to help the public, deal with offenders and to reduce crime.  We should all be proud of the officers and staff of West Yorkshire Police who have continued to keep people safe and feeling safe across the county.”

Helen Ross, from the ONS Centre for Crime and Justice, said: “The coronavirus pandemic and related lockdown restrictions have resulted in fluctuations in the level of crime experienced in England and Wales.

“Data from the survey showed decreases in crime at the start of the pandemic, with rises seen over the summer months, specifically in theft, following the easing of lockdown measures, with overall crime now back at pre-lockdown levels of January to March 2020.

“There were also fluctuations in police recorded crime, but total recorded offences for July to September 2020 were below that seen in the same period in 2019.”

The ONS said an annual 3% drop in recorded knife crime across England and Wales was largely down to a 22% decrease in April to June. However, this was followed by a sharp increase in the three months to September.

Children’s charity Barnardo’s warned that offences could “erupt” once the latest lockdown is eased.

Chief executive Javed Khan said: “Children and young people have spent months out of school and away from their support networks, leaving many vulnerable to exploitation and control by criminal gangs who have seized on the disruption.

“With rising unemployment and poor job prospects, some young people are finding it hard to believe in a positive future, and see no alternative but to turn to a dangerous way of making money, carrying knives to protect themselves.”