Crime stats show increases in arrests for domestic violence and sex …

Thames Valley Police statistics show police attended more than 81,000 incidents and made more than 16,000 arrests over a six-month period in 2023.

New statistics show Thames Valley Police received over 500,000 contacts from the public, from April 1 to September 30 this year.

Domestic abuse and violence against women and girls

Twenty-eight per cent of arrests made have been related to domestic violence. There were more than 4,610 domestic abuse arrests.

April to September this year saw a 22 per cent increase in charges for rape - a total of 66 rape offence charges and an 11 per cent increase in charges for other sexual offences.

Chief Constable Jason Hogg said:

"In the last six months, we have responded to more than half a million contacts from the public and attended 81,143 incidents, which represents an incredible demand on our 8,400 officers, staff and volunteers.

"Increased rape offence charges and domestic abuse arrests show how our proactive work targeting these crime types is showing real progress.

"Behind each of these numbers are the victims of crime, and a priority for the force over the coming year is to place them at the centre of our service and work tirelessly to improve our service to all."

Roads

Officers attended 3,228 road traffic collisions and 1,007 arrests were made relating to drink driving.

There were 1,220 arrests for driving whilst distracted by a mobile phone and 1,862 enforcements for people not wearing a seatbelt.

Driving while using a mobile phone and similar 'distraction' crimes have increased by 78 per cent, while seatbelt offences are up by 72 per cent compared to last year.

More than 48,700 speeding offences were detected by officers in camera vans, while about 38,820 vehicles were detected speeding by cameras.

Detection of speeding offences has increased by 91 per cent.

Fatal collisions are 'down slightly on this time last year and down even further on the previous year.'

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Bettington of the Joint Roads Policing Unit said:

"We will continue to work together with partners across a range of agencies to find ways to reduce and prevent offending.

"Everyone should be able to use our roads in a safe and healthy way. We will educate where appropriate to prevent re-offending and explain where there is an opportunity to encourage safer use of our roads."

Thames Valley Police supported Road Safety Week, running from November 19-25.

It focused on the increased risk of a crash when drivers go over the speed limit.

Numbers at a glance

More than 507,830 total contacts from the public - up two per cent on the same period in 2022.

There were about 220,350 calls to 999; about 231,600 calls to 101; and about 55,870 online reports.

More than 3,300 missing people were found.

Of these, 384 were deemed high risk and 1,685 of these were children.

More than 81,140 incidents were attended and more than 16,230 arrests were made.

Of these, there were about 390 knife crime arrests.

There were 711 sudden deaths attended by police.