OVERALL crime falls across West Mercia – but serious offences against women continue to riseNew figures published today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show a mixed picture for West Mercia, with overall crime continuing to fall while serious offences disproportionately perpetrated by men against women have increased. Over the 12 months to March 2026, West Mercia recorded sharp rises in stalking and harassment by 11 per cent and sexual offences by eight per cent. These trends reflect national concerns about violence against women and girls. Despite this, overall recorded crime in West Mercia has fallen by one per cent, with several high‑volume offences continuing to decline. Notable reductions include vehicle crime down by 23 per cent, public order offences by nine per cent, shoplifting by seven per cent, theft by nine per cent and burglary by seven per cent.