‘How safe people feel is as key as what the statistics actually say’

CRIME RATES FALL ACROSS CITY AND COUNTY, DESPITE SOME PERCEPTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC

- By ZENA HAWLEY

CRIME rates across Derby and Derbyshire have fallen over the past two years.

In particular, there have been dramatic falls in the number of house burglaries and also bike thefts across the city and wider county.

Overall, there were five per cent fewer offences across the county in 2024-25 compared to those published in 2023-24.

In Derby - the same data, which was published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) - shows an 8 per cent overall reduction in recorded crime of all kinds up to March 2025.

The Derby Telegraph has also obtained additional data for the city centre for April, May and June this year, which has shown a continued reduction albeit a small one of 22 less overall crimes for the three months.

Among the ONS figures for Derby, there was a 14 per cent reduction in robbery offences, theft was down by 24 per cent, residential burglary 20 per cent, bicycle theft down by 31 per cent.

And council leader Councillor Nadine Peatfield has revealed that a new strategy is being developed to tackle high street crime, from low-level antisocial behaviour to the more high-profile incidents recently experienced in the city.

But police and councillors are aware that there is still a public concern that crime rates are soaring and say they are trying to overcome that perception.

Councillor Sarah Chambers, city council cabinet member for communities, said: “We’ve known for some time that crime figures are down in Derby but politically, it didn’t feel right to share that as good news, when there have been some high-profile, upsetting crimes in the city centre.

“That affects perception, regardless of the stats.

“We continue to work in partnership with the police to support them in driving down those figures, but also on the public perception of safety in our city.