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Crime statistics 'need overhaul' Crime statistics 'need overhaul'
(about 2 hours later)
The way crime statistics are produced needs a "radical overhaul", a Home Office review has concluded.The way crime statistics are produced needs a "radical overhaul", a Home Office review has concluded.
The report says the current system misses out significant groups of victims and that some definitions of crime are "confusing and misleading". The report says the current system misses out significant groups of victims and some definitions of crime are "confusing and misleading".
The study, commissioned by former home secretary Charles Clarke, urges a new system with more localised statistics. It urges a "shift in emphasis" in the way figures for England and Wales are presented with greater focus given to local rather than national statistics.
Figures currently come from two sources - recorded crime and interviews with residents for the British Crime Survey. The figures come from the British Crime Survey and recorded crime data.
The report adds that the collection of data should be reviewed to ensure "independence and integrity". The independent review, commissioned by former home secretary Charles Clarke, says police crime figures ignore the 60% of offences that go unreported.
The review says police recorded crime figures ignore the 60% of offences that go unreported. SUGGESTED CHANGES More local dataExtending range of victimsRevising type of offences
More than 50,000 adults participate in the British Crime Survey, which sets out to measure the extent and nature of crimes the public have experienced in the last year.
But the report notes it does not capture crimes committed against corporate victims, those under 16 and adults not living in so-called "normal" households or private homes. These means that residents of student halls or old people's homes are among those not included.
And it said about half of all of what is classed as violent crime involves no physical injury, including offences such as bigamy.
Public trust
The figures on reported crime reflect national trends and are said to be misleading for most local areas because "crime is very skewed in its geographical distribution".
In some local neighbourhoods the national average will present a picture of crime risk that is higher than that which is experienced.
We welcome this report to help us ensure that the public have a better understanding and greater trust in crime statistics Home Office spokesmanWe welcome this report to help us ensure that the public have a better understanding and greater trust in crime statistics Home Office spokesman
The British Crime Survey does not capture crimes committed against corporate victims, those under 16 and adults not living in "normal" households, it adds. It is also possible for national crime rate trends to go either up or down but without the trend being reflected in individual neighbourhoods.
The report notes that about half of all of what is classed as violent crime involves no physical injury, including offences such as bigamy. The reports calls for the publication of crime figures related to areas covered by the new neighbourhood policing teams which can be as small as electoral wards.
National figures are misleading for most local areas because "crime is very skewed in its geographical distribution" - which means most neighbourhoods will have a picture of crime risk which is higher than it actually is.
Review chairman Professor Adrian Smith said it was vital for the public to have an accurate picture of crime.Review chairman Professor Adrian Smith said it was vital for the public to have an accurate picture of crime.
"It's very important that the public trusts crime statistics and if you have statistics that the public perceive to be in conflict with their direct individual experiences, or uses, categories or definitions that don't seem commonsensical, or leave out whole areas of criminal activity, you're going to get an undermining of confidence and trust," he told the BBC."It's very important that the public trusts crime statistics and if you have statistics that the public perceive to be in conflict with their direct individual experiences, or uses, categories or definitions that don't seem commonsensical, or leave out whole areas of criminal activity, you're going to get an undermining of confidence and trust," he told the BBC.
Public trust
In the report he said the recommendations would provide the basis for changes which would do "much to restore public trust and confidence".In the report he said the recommendations would provide the basis for changes which would do "much to restore public trust and confidence".
The independent review was carried out by leading statisticians, police officials and criminologists. The independent review was carried out by leading statisticians, police officials and criminologists amid concerns public trust in the crime figures had declined so much that it was not possible to have a proper debate about policies.
It said the data should continue to be collected by the Home Office but there should be a review to ensure "independence and integrity".
Any "political commentary" should be kept separate from the published figures, it added.
The Home Office said the findings will help it decide the best way of collecting and reporting statistics in the future.The Home Office said the findings will help it decide the best way of collecting and reporting statistics in the future.
A spokesman said: "We welcome this report to help us ensure that the public have a better understanding and greater trust in crime statistics."A spokesman said: "We welcome this report to help us ensure that the public have a better understanding and greater trust in crime statistics."
The review was commissioned because of concern that public trust in the crime figures had declined so much that it was not possible to have a proper debate about criminal justice policies.