CRIME RATES have plunged across Southampton but police warn they are not being complacent.

The fight against crime has seen a drop in recorded offences of 13 per cent across the city.

Hampshire Constabulary recorded 28,606 offences in Southampton in the 12 months to December 2020.

In contrast, there were 32,723 the previous year, based on figures from the Office for National Statistics.

Sexual offences have dropped by 18 per cent to 942 recorded incidents.

Violent offences have decreased to 11,129 - down seven per cent.

And weapons offences such as the possession of firearms or knives have gone down by six per cent to just 369 incidents.

However, there has been an “alarming” increase in drug offences - which have risen by 33 per cent to 1,201 recorded incidents.

With 113 crimes per 1,000 people, the rate in Southampton was far higher than across England and Wales, which stood at 81.

Superintendent Simon Dodds has said that lockdowns have impacted both the level and types of crime reported.

He said: “Serious and violent crime which includes drug related harm remains one of our core priorities, and the increase in these figures have come as a direct result of our additional work in this area.

"Specifically in relation to drugs offences, Southampton has a dedicated team of officers who have continued the focus throughout the pandemic with enforcement and proactive operations under Operation Fortress.

"Additionally, our dedication to national operations that still took place during the pandemic, will have led to an increase in the number of drugs offences recorded and therefore show in our crime rates.”

Superintendent Dodds added that the force is not complacent about the drop in figures and urges people to report any suspected drug-related activity.

Labour MP for Southampton Test, Alan Whitehead, has called the increase in drug offences alarming. He said: “As well as arguing for more police to help tackle organised crime, Labour will also be asking the government for extra support for mental health and addiction services as we come out of the covid crisis.”