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Recorded crime in Northern Ireland has risen by almost 3%, police said.<\/p>\nRecorded crime in Northern Ireland has risen by almost 3%, police said.<\/p>\n
New offenses involving social media and the inclusion of people who accidentally leave petrol stations without paying have contributed, a senior officer said.<\/p>\n
More victims of domestic violence are coming forward to report offences but there has also been a proportionate increase in robbery.<\/p>\n
Drugs operations in Belfast have contributed to the increase in the number of drugs offences detected.<\/p>\n
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs said: \u201cWhile it is disappointing that across Northern Ireland, the recording of crime overall seems to have increased by just under 3%, this figure needs to be wholly understood.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow police record some offences has changed \u2013 which has had an impact on these statistics.\u201d<\/p>\n
Changes in the way crimes are recorded according to the British Home Office counting rules have contributed to this increase.<\/p>\n
During the last financial year, there were 100,995 recorded offences in Northern Ireland, equating to an increase of 2.9% or 2,875 crimes, compared with the same period in 2017\/18.<\/p>\n
Recorded crime rose in six of the nine main classifications, with the largest proportional increase in robbery, which was up 10.7% to 639 offences.<\/p>\n
Recorded crime in Belfast was up by 1.6%, while in Derry and Strabane it was down by 1%.<\/p>\n
The senior officer said: \u201cWe fully recognize the impact crimes such as robbery can have on people\u2019s lives and livelihoods.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not complacent about any crime or any offence \u2013 and police officers will continue to work round the clock to keep people and communities safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, an increase in the reporting of crime to police can also indicate greater confidence in policing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe this is the case around domestic abuse \u2013 where in 2018\/19, we saw an increase of 11.4% in this type of crime on the previous 12 months.\u201d<\/p>\n
The number of recorded incidents of domestic abuse rose to 31,682 \u2013 an increase on the previous 12 months and the highest figure recorded since 2004\/05.<\/p>\n
This year there was a 10.3% increase in drug offences to 7,106 \u2013 most of which relate to drug possession offences.<\/p>\n
This is more than six times higher than in 2001\/02.<\/p>\n
Mr Mairs added: \u201cWe are continuing to remove more drugs from our streets, reduce the harm to our communities and bring those responsible before the courts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lower levels of burglary accounted for the majority of the reductions seen within police recorded crime.<\/p>\n
These offenses have been showing a general downwards trend over the last 24 months and have fallen by 10.2% over the last 12 months.<\/p>\n