Police recorded robberies fell by 4pc in the year ending September 2015, in line with a downward trend since 2003, according to the latest official figures.
That said, robbery offences are concentrated in a small number of metropolitan forces, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS); nearly half (44pc) of all offences are recorded in London, and a further 20pc in the Greater Manchester, West Midlands and West Yorkshire police force areas.
In the year ending September 2015, 89pc of robberies recorded by the police were of personal property. There were 45,549 of these offences, down 4pc compared with the previous year. Robbery of business property (which makes up the remaining 11pc of total robbery offences) fell by 2pc in the year ending September 2015 compared with the previous year. In the year ending September 2015, one in five robberies recorded by the police involved a knife or other ‘sharp instrument’.
The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) showed an estimated 6.6 million incidents of crime covered by the survey in the year ending September 2015. This latest estimate was not significantly different compared with the previous year’s, the ONS said.
There was a 5 per cent increase in the volume of fraud offences referred to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) at the City of London Police. Over 0.6 million offences were referred to NFIB, including 234,878 offences reported by victims to Action Fraud (the UK’s national fraud reporting centre), 283,654 referrals from Cifas (a UK-wide fraud prevention service) and 86,066 cases from FFA UK (that represents the UK payments industry). As the ONS admits, many cases of fraud do not come to the attention of the police, and the survey only provides what the statisticians call ‘a very partial picture’.
Labour view
Jack Dromey, Labour Shadow Policing Minister, said: “Police recorded crime is rising and some of the most serious crimes have soared to the highest levels in years. There has been a major increase in knife crime, up 9 per cent, a 27 per cent rise in violent crime, including a 14 per cent increase in the murder rate, while sexual offences have gone up 36 per cent. Reported rape is the highest since 2003.
The figures did not include online crime, he added. “Crime is changing and has moved online in recent years. The ONS has estimated that were such crimes to be included, the total number of recorded crimes would nearly double. Just as online crime and fraud is soaring, so too are the demands on a depleted police force to keep the country safe from terrorism and tackle child sex exploitation and abuse.
“The Tories have slashed police officers by 17,000 and broke their promise to the public to protect front-line officer numbers. Now we see the biggest increase in recorded crime in a decade. The first duty of any Government is the safety and security of our citizens. By overseeing the sharpest decline in police numbers anywhere in the EU, the Tories are letting the British people down.”
Retail view
At the trade body the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) chief executive James Lowman said: “Shop theft is a serious crime, which for some retailers can be extremely damaging to the profitability of their business. These Government figures are disappointing and must not be ignored.
“Government must be clear that shop theft is a serious offence. Police and crime commissioners and police forces must prioritise shop theft. The courts must impose meaningful sentences to deter and punish shop theft. Retailers must report shop theft.“
Figures from the ACS Crime Survey (2015) show that shop theft cost the convenience sector alone in excess of £35m between 2014-15, despite millions being spent on investment in crime prevention measures over the same time period.
ACS will release the results of its 2016 Crime Survey on March 17, at the Crime Seminar in London.
The Commercial Victimisation Survey (CVS) is an official telephone survey in which respondents from a representative sample of business premises in certain sectors in England and Wales are asked about crimes experienced at their premises in the 12 months prior to interview. Surveys took place in 2012, 2013 and 2014, having previously run in 1994 and 2002. The next release of the CVS is planned for publication on April 28.
There was a 6 per cent increase in police recorded crime compared with the previous year, with 4.3 million offences recorded in the year ending September 2015. Most of this rise is thought to be due to a greater proportion of reports of crime being recorded in the last year, following improved compliance with national recording standards by police forces.
Police view
The National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Crime Recording, Chief Constable Jeff Farrar said: “It is good news that the number of people reporting crimes against them has fallen 30 per cent since 2010 and 66 per cent since peak levels in 1995. The 6 per cent increase in police recorded crime reflects our work to improve crime recording across the country. Many of the notable increases in specific crimes are attributed to more reporting and better recording.
“The NPCC Lead for Child Protection Chief Constable Simon Bailey has said that increased confidence of victims to report crimes to the police has resulted in the significant increase in recorded crime but that, as the numbers continue to increase, we need to consider whether more offences are being perpetrated and he is looking at this issue.
“We believe that the increase in knife crime is about more than changes in recording and that the number of people carrying knives is on the rise. This is a worrying development after many years of reducing knife crime and chief officers are working together to determine how best to respond. Police chiefs are working individually, collectively and closely with key partners to adapt to the threats we are facing today and will do in the future so we can continue to reduce the number of people impacted by crime in the UK.”
