Greater Manchester crime rates highest outside London

Crime rates in Greater Manchester are higher than anywhere else in the country outside of London, new figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal.

In the 12 months to the end of September 2018, more than half of all crimes reported in the north west happened in Greater Manchester – 14% of all crimes in England, excluding fraud.

Worryingly, crimes involving knives have also risen in Greater Manchester, which also featured the second highest rate of knife crimes outside the capital region.

Commenting on the figures, Helen Ross from the Office for National Statistics Centre for Crime and Justice, said: “Burglary and shoplifting are decreasing but others, such as vehicle offences and robbery are rising. We have also seen increases in some types of 'lower-volume, high-harm' violence including offences involving knives or sharp instruments.”

Unless stated, all types of crime recorded in Greater Manchester were the second highest in the country behind the Metropolitan Police.

Violence against the person – 97,138 incidents (12% increase on last year)

• 41% of incidents in the north west
• 6.7% of incidents in England

Homicide – 82 incidents (5% increase on last year)

• 54.7% of incidents in the north west
• 11.5% of incidents in England

Violence with injury – 28,664 incidents – third highest in the country (9% increase on last year)

• 37.2% of incidents in the north west
• 5.7% of incidents in England

Violence without injury – 46,318 incidents (12% increase on last year)

• 46.3% of incidents in the north west
• 7.7% of incidents in England

Stalking and harassment – 22,043 incidents – third highest in the country (19% increase on last year)

• 36.8% of incidents in the north west
• 6.3% of incidents in England

Death or serious injury - unlawful driving – 31 incidents – eighth highest in the country

• 41% of incidents in the north west
• 4.5% of incidents in England

Sexual offences – 9,649 incidents (13% increase on last year)

• 42.8% of incidents in the north west
• 6.5% of incidents in England

Robbery – 7,497 incidents – third highest in the country (27% increase on last year)

• 71.5% of incidents in the north west
• 9.5% of incidents in England

Theft offences – 121,820 incidents (2% decrease on last year)

• 47.7% of incidents in the north west
• 6.4% of incidents in England

Burglary – 30, 186 incidents (11% decrease on last year)

• 48.4% of incidents in the north west
• 7.4% of incidents in England

Residential burglary – 22,001 incidents

• 49.1% of incidents in the north west
• 7.6% of incidents in England

Non-residential burglary – 8,185 incidents

• 46.6% of incidents in the north west
• 6.8% of incidents in England

Vehicle offences – 31,168 incidents – third highest in the country (5% increase on last year)

• 55.2% of incidents in the north west
• 7.1% of incidents in England

Theft from the person – 7,083 incidents (6% increase on last year)

• 60.5% of incidents in the north west
• 7.8% of incidents in England

Bicycle theft – 4,048 incidents – fourth highest in the country (18% decrease on last year)

• 43.4% of incidents in the north west
• 4.7% of incidents in England

Shoplifting – 17,363 incidents – fourth highest in the country (4% decrease on last year)

• 37.9% of incidents in the north west
• 4.9% of incidents in England

Other theft offences – 31,972 incidents (1% increase on last year)

• 45.9% of incidents in the north west
• 6.3% of incidents in England

Criminal damage and arson – 37,616 incidents (9% decrease on last year)

• 41.5% of incidents in the north west
• 7% of incidents in England

Drug offences – 5,050 incidents – fourth highest in the country (17% increase on last year)

• 28.1% of incidents in the north west
• 3.9% of incidents in England

Possession of weapons offences – 3,359 incidents (41% increase on last year)

• 58.8% of incidents in the north west
• 8.4% of incidents in England

Public order offences – 47,764 incidents (12% increase on last year)

• 51.4% of incidents in the north west
• 12.2% of incidents in England

Miscellaneous crimes – 8,234 incidents (18% increase on last year)

• 50.1% of incidents in the north west
• 8.9% of incidents in England

Fraud offences referred to National Fraud Intelligence Bureau – 11, 478 incidents – third highest in the country

• 41.3% of incidents in the north west
• 4.7% of incidents in England

Total knife crime reported in Greater Manchester – 3,139 incidents (7%)

• Attempted murder – 37 incidents (31%) – third highest in the country
• Threats to kill – 218 incidents (9%) – third highest in the country
• Assault with injury and assault with intent to cause serious harm – 1,301 incidents (5%)
• Robbery – 1,505 incidents (20%) – third highest in the country
• Rape and sexual assault – 65 incidents (1%)
• Homicide – 13 incidents (18%) third highest in the country