A Freedom of Information request has found that violent & sexual offences are the most commonly recorded category of crime committed across England and Wales.
Other offence categories that regularly cropped up were anti-social behaviour, public order and offences of criminal damage and arson.
However despite the figures indicating that violent and sexual crimes were the most commonly recorded type of offences, improvements in the way these crimes are recorded could influence the data.
Following a report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies (HMIC) last year, Cheshire Police has adopted a more “victim-focused” approach to tackling crime since last June, and records allegations of offences once they are made, even if they do not proceed to prosecution, in an attempt to ensure that victims are taken care of properly and receive the appropriate level of support.