Fears increase in violence in South Yorkshire could be linked to domestic abuse

In the year ending September 2020, there were 48,626 offences of violence reported in the county – a seven per cent increase on the previous year.

South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings, has expressed concern at the increase, which he described as ‘disturbing’.

“Many of these will relate to domestic abuse. These are unacceptable crimes and one of the tasks of the Violence Reduction Unit that I set up just over a year ago is to try to understand why people are drawn to violence and see what all the agencies in South Yorkshire can do together to stop it. But this is a longer term project,” he said.

A number of agencies and police forces have expressed fears during the coronavirus pandemic that victims of domestic abuse could be at risk because of being forced to spend prolonged periods of time with offenders.

Office for National Statistics figures reveal a three per cent drop in overall crime in South Yorkshire in the 12-month period to September 2020 compared to the previous year.

Burglaries reduced by 22 per cent, with 11,780 offences recorded and robberies dropped by seven per cent, with 1,597 crimes logged.

Vehicle crime reduced by 13 per cent, with 140,559 incidents noted.

But stalking and harassment increased by 14 per cent, with 19,017 offences recorded and drug offences shot up by 25 per cent, with 4,007 crimes logged.