Crime has risen over the last year in Cherwell

Thames Valley Police recorded 12,472 offences in Cherwell in the 12 months to June, according to the Office for National Statistics.

That was an increase of 22 per cent compared to the previous year, when there were 10,189.

Read more: Three men arrested on suspicion of trespassing

However, at 82 crimes per 1,000 people, that was lower than the rate across England and Wales, which stood at 91.

The figures come as a victim support group says “women deserve better” after a sharp rise in violent and sexual offences led to a record high for police-recorded crime in England and Wales.

Of the crimes recorded in Cherwell over the last 12 months, 501 were sexual offences – an increase of 14 per cent from the year before.

Meanwhile, violent crime has risen in the area, from 4,072 to 4,630 over this period.

One of the main factors behind this increase was the rise in violence with injury, which rose by 16 per cent from 1,065 incidents to 1,239.

Reacting to the figures, Diana Fawcett, chief executive at the charity Victim Support, said: “This huge increase in sexual violence, in particular rape, reported to the police is seriously alarming and a stark reminder that the government needs to get a grip on staggeringly low conviction rates and horrendous court delays.

Theft offences in Cherwell rose by 33 per cent, with 3,702 incidents recorded in the 12 months to June.

At 24 crimes per 1,000 people, that was slightly lower than the rate across England and Wales, which stood at 27.

Read more from this author

This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1

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