West Berks Crime: Domestic abuse up, knife crime down

Domestic abuse in West Berkshire is on the increase.

Police figures say there has been a 15 per cent rise in the last 12 months.

The Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) group has surveyed 456 people in the district to try to identify locations of highest concern. 

And police say they are looking at improving how they treat VAWG offences. 

A report to West Berkshire Council’s scrutiny committee also says there are currently no active county drugs lines in the region but police continue to patrol areas of Newbury targeted by gangs in the past.

The report also states there has been a 22 per cent decrease in knife crime in the area.

But it says violence without injury has gone  down by 16 per cent with a 30 per cent reduction in serious violence.

There are three public spaces protection orders in place in West Berkshire.

They are in Newbury town centre, Thatcham and Speen Lodge.

Police also report that there have been six house closures due to anti-social behaviour in the last year, with five community protection warning notices issued for ongoing anti-social behaviour.