Latest figures from the British Crime Survey (BCS) show that overall crime remains stable, with crime recorded by the police showing a 5pc decrease compared with 2007-08.
As even the Home Office admits, police records are one method of measuring crime rates. However, these statistics alone don’t paint an accurate picture because many crimes are not reported to police.
For the crime types it covers, the BCS is claimed to provide a more reliable measure of trends in crime as it has a consistent methodology and is unaffected by changes in levels of reporting to the police, recording practice or police activity.
Police figures showed a 1pc increase in domestic burglary and a 2pc fall in non-domestic burglary. They also show a 10pc fall in offences against vehicles and in criminal damage.
The figures show some signs of acquisitive crime increasing, with the BCS showing incidents of theft from the person rising by 25pc, and bicycle theft up 22pc.
You can view the 2008-09 statistics on the Home Office RDS website.
Figures
Home Secretary Alan Johnson described the statistics as ‘encouraging,’ pointing to overall crime falling by 36pc since 1997 – a total of six million fewer crimes compared with 12 years ago.
He said: ‘Today’s figures show that the reductions in crime are being maintained and the risk of being a victim is still historically low.
‘Encouragingly, violent crime continues to fall with homicide figures now lower than they have been for a decade and attempted murder also falling. Overall, violent crime with injury is down 7pc and there has been a 5pc fall in recorded robberies, now at its lowest level since 2002.
‘But we are not complacent. As in previous years we see changing patterns of crime and we know that during economic downturns certain crimes face upward pressure, which is why we’ve already taken action to tackle these head-on. Although today’s figures show signs of some acquisitive crimes increasing, the government is determined to keep these crimes down by continued investment in preventative measures, tough, targeted policing and historically high numbers of police officers.
‘Of course statistics are only part of the picture and offer no comfort to victims which is why it is encouraging that confidence at a local level is rising with nearly half of people saying they feel the police and local agencies are dealing with antisocial behaviour and crime in their area.’
