Violence not on increase in Sidmouth

INCIDENTS of violence in the Sidmouth area are not on the increase, despite the appearance of a sharp rise in recorded figures.

INCIDENTS of violence in the Sidmouth area are not on the increase, despite the appearance of a sharp rise in recorded figures.

Last Thursday, PC Steve Lemon reported to the annual town assembly that crimes of violence had risen by 18 in a year from 80 to 98, which include 29 common assaults.

The previous year's figures were 21 common assaults and 68 of actual bodily harm.

Sergeant Andy Turner confirmed this reflected a change in the way violent crimes are recorded, rather than the number that occurred.

He said police district researchers at Exmouth had found an increase "across the board" in violent crime, caused by the Home Office's changes to recording methods.

Previously incidents of common assault or domestic violence were not recorded with wounding crimes such as actual or grievous bodily harm.

"Now we are recording all violent offences when before it was split up," he said.

"That includes possessing weapons, child cruelty, death by dangerous driving and assault on police.