I share the same cynicism and scepticism with your reader William Dixon Smith, when he writes about the police’s manipulation and spinning of the recently reported crime statistics (Letters, July 7).

I find it incredulous that chief inspector Dave Hannon can regard the increase in recorded sex crimes by 43 per cent as “positive” (Sex Crimes on Increase, July 5).

I’m sure victims may even find his remarks as insulting, at the very least ill chosen. Following his logic, should we therefore celebrate again if the figures continue rising?

Political spin is one thing, but this really takes the proverbial biscuit.

Elsewhere in the police’s statistics we are expected to applaud other categories of crimes on the decline, such as burglaries, criminal damage, drug offences etc.

Again, following his logic, might this actually not reflect the fact that people may actually be refraining from reporting such crimes due to their abysmally low detection rate?

You can’t have it both ways.

Report the facts by all means, but don’t insult our intelligence by putting a favourable spin on what are very worrying figures.

G Rudd, Kerver Lane, Dunnington.