Borough sees fall in crime reports, but some rises

Knowsley Council said there had been a 14% overall reduction in reported crime

Reports of crime have fallen in a Merseyside borough, although there has been a rise in allegations of some violent offences, a council meeting heard.

Knowsley Council said there had been a 14% reduction in overall reported crime but there had been increases in reports of injury-related violence, hate crime, non-residential burglaries and illegal driving crimes.

A council report found that while reports of sexual assaults had risen nationally by about 3% due to improvements in police record keeping, Knowsley saw a 5% annual decrease from 423 to 400 in 2023/24.

Gemma Melia, intelligence and insight manager at the authority, said: “We think that many of these crimes can be related to the night-time economy.”

Local business owner Karen Mower, who used to work in victim support services, told BBC Radio Merseyside that “people are a bit more hesitant in going out at night time”.

She said she believed that “a lack of resources and CCTV monitoring” contributed to the number of sexual assaults against girls and women, as well as some men.

“I feel that there should be more support from the government in bringing in resources for the police and the local councils,” she said.

The BBC has contacted Merseyside Police for a response.

Domestic abuse

The council meeting heard that Knowsley accounts for about 10% of crime on Merseyside

Reports of hate crimes also increased around Whiston Hospital, which was described as a hotspot - although the rise was thought to be influenced by improved reporting by trained staff.

There had been a decrease in reported domestic abuse in the area in 2023/24 in line with the national pattern.

However, referrals to domestic abuse services indicated an increase in harm committed by children against parents.

Knowsley Council said it has committed to long-term investment in domestic abuse services and prevention work.