Robberies in Somerset have seen a slight increase in the past year, according to new crime figures.

The data, provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), reveals insight into the trends of crime as some offences are returning to pre-pandemic levels, while others remain higher or lower than the levels before Covid-19.

In the year to March 2023, Avon and Somerset Constabulary recorded 1,632 robbery offences in Somerset, marking a 2% rise from 1,599 in the previous year. However, this number was down from pre-pandemic levels when 1,867 robbery offences were recorded in the year to March 2020.

Nick Stripe, from the ONS Centre for Crime and Justice, commented on the national picture, saying: "Some crime types are returning to their pre-pandemic levels, while others may have been affected by changes in people's behaviour during the pandemic and the subsequent lifting of social restrictions."

He also noted that specific crimes such as "knife crime, robbery and firearms offences are all down on March 2020 levels, but have seen increases in the past year."

While robberies in Somerset showed a small increase, sexual offences in the region also increased.

The figures for Avon and Somerset recorded 5,273 sexual offences in the past year, a significant increase of 20% from 2020. The ONS stated that this rise reflects improvements in police recording practices and increased reporting by victims, meaning the figures "do not provide a reliable measure of trends in these types of crime."

The statistical data was influenced by factors such as "the impact of high-profile incidents, media coverage and campaigns on people's willingness to report both recent and historical incidents to the police, as well as a potential increase in the number of victims."

Overall, crime figures in Somerset remained fairly steady, with Avon and Somerset Constabulary recording a total of 141,043 crimes in 2023.

This was a slight increase from the 140,564 crimes recorded pre-pandemic. The broader context of these figures does demonstrate some fluctuation in crime rates, reflecting the complex interplay of social changes and law enforcement practices during and after the pandemic.