A CRIME-FIGHTING plan for South Lakeland has been backed by councillors after new figures show crime is on the up.

The number of reported crimes comparing April-June 2018 and 2019, has indicated a three per cent across the board rise in crime, a meeting was told.

Violent crime without injury has risen 16 per cent while sexual offences have fallen seven percent when comparing 2018 to 2019, according to South Lakeland District Council.

However, the police said the rises could be as a result of increased confidence from the public in reporting crime and changes to how crime is now recorded.

Cllr Suzie Pye, the cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “The plan identifies clear aims and objectives and crucially it sets out practical ways of delivering on five priorities. The key message is that prevention plays a vital role.”

“Rather than dealing with the aftermath of alcohol-related crime, it’s much better to improve education about alcohol misuse and work with licensees to reduce the likelihood of alcohol crimes happening in the first instance,” said Cllr Pye, the Liberal Democrat member for Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale.

The meeting was told that a recent drama project – commissioned by the crime partnership – had reached more than 1,000 Year Nine pupils across South Lakeland and Barrow.

A separate project, to dramatise the risks of ‘County Lines’ drug dealing – a problem in both Kendal and Barrow – has also won glowing praise from students.

Cllr Mark Wilson, the Labour councillor for Ulverston East, said: “Each year the figures seem to creep up and we hear it’s because crime is being reported more frequently. I don’t want that. I think we can drive those figures down.”

He said work was needed to prevent vulnerable people ‘falling into the clutches’ of criminal gangs. The plan, by the South Cumbria Community Safety Partnership, identifies five key priorities for 2019-20.

They are protecting vulnerable people, substance abuse and drug supply, violent crime, anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse.

Cllr Janette Jenkinson, the Conservative councillor for Ulverston West, said Peter McCall, the Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner had supported many projects to help make a difference.