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| Police-recorded crime down by 9% | Police-recorded crime down by 9% |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Police-recorded crime in England and Wales fell 9% in the 12 months to March, latest figures suggest. | Police-recorded crime in England and Wales fell 9% in the 12 months to March, latest figures suggest. |
| The first-ever reliable figures for knife crime showed there were 22,000 offences last year. | The first-ever reliable figures for knife crime showed there were 22,000 offences last year. |
| They also show that while the risk of being a victim is at its lowest ever level, people still think that the rate is going up. | They also show that while the risk of being a victim is at its lowest ever level, people still think that the rate is going up. |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she was "extremely pleased" with the overall reduction. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she was "extremely pleased" with the overall reduction. |
| The annual crime report for 2007-2008 reveals the longest recorded period of falling crime - down 48% from 1995. | The annual crime report for 2007-2008 reveals the longest recorded period of falling crime - down 48% from 1995. |
| It shows there were five million recorded crimes. All the main categories were down but gun crime was up 2% and murder was up 3%. | It shows there were five million recorded crimes. All the main categories were down but gun crime was up 2% and murder was up 3%. |
| Home Office experts say the figures show that offences are concentrated in hotspots and not evenly spread around England and Wales. | Home Office experts say the figures show that offences are concentrated in hotspots and not evenly spread around England and Wales. |
| They also say the figures mirror trends in falling crime seen throughout the developed world. | They also say the figures mirror trends in falling crime seen throughout the developed world. |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "The government's priority is to build on what we have achieved so that everyone feels improvement. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "The government's priority is to build on what we have achieved so that everyone feels improvement. |
| "We are firmly committed to deliver further reductions in the crimes that most concern people, particularly violence involving knives and guns." | "We are firmly committed to deliver further reductions in the crimes that most concern people, particularly violence involving knives and guns." |
| Knife crime | Knife crime |
| She acknowledged that "knives are still being used in the most serious violent incidents" and the Youth Crime Action plan published this week was part of a wider package of measures aimed at tackling the problem. | She acknowledged that "knives are still being used in the most serious violent incidents" and the Youth Crime Action plan published this week was part of a wider package of measures aimed at tackling the problem. |
| Serious violent crimes involving a blade have previously been bundled with other attacks, but since April last year officers have recorded them separately in light of growing public concern. | Serious violent crimes involving a blade have previously been bundled with other attacks, but since April last year officers have recorded them separately in light of growing public concern. |
| Police recorded 22,151 offences involving knives last year in England and Wales, including grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, woundings and robbery. | Police recorded 22,151 offences involving knives last year in England and Wales, including grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, woundings and robbery. |
| The statistics include a force-by-force breakdown of knife crime, with the highest number of offences - 7,409 - recorded in London. | The statistics include a force-by-force breakdown of knife crime, with the highest number of offences - 7,409 - recorded in London. |
| Speaking about the knife crime figures, Prime Minister Gordon Mr Brown said he wanted to make carrying a blade as "unacceptable" as having a gun on the streets. | Speaking about the knife crime figures, Prime Minister Gordon Mr Brown said he wanted to make carrying a blade as "unacceptable" as having a gun on the streets. |
| "It is because we have identified the problem of knife crime, and particularly in some hotspots of the country, that we have stepped up our action dramatically," he said. | "It is because we have identified the problem of knife crime, and particularly in some hotspots of the country, that we have stepped up our action dramatically," he said. |
| "We will do everything in our power to prevent people having knives." | "We will do everything in our power to prevent people having knives." |