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| Homicides in England and Wales hit highest level in a decade | Homicides in England and Wales hit highest level in a decade |
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| Homicides in the last year rose to their highest level in over a decade, with 732 people killed in England and Wales, according to the latest official statistics, which also showed an increase in knife crime. | Homicides in the last year rose to their highest level in over a decade, with 732 people killed in England and Wales, according to the latest official statistics, which also showed an increase in knife crime. |
| The Office for National Statistics said that in the year to December 2018, 732 lives were lost to homicide compared with 690 lives the previous year, an increase of 42 killings, and the highest recorded since 2008. Homicide includes murder, manslaughter, corporate manslaughter and infanticide. | The Office for National Statistics said that in the year to December 2018, 732 lives were lost to homicide compared with 690 lives the previous year, an increase of 42 killings, and the highest recorded since 2008. Homicide includes murder, manslaughter, corporate manslaughter and infanticide. |
| Offences involving knives also rose 6%, with police recording 40,829 offences, excluding figures for Greater Manchester which were omitted from the yearly comparison for technical reasons. If those are included then 44,443 offences with a knife or sharp instrument were recorded. The ONS said there were rises in other crime types, including an 11% increase in robbery, 12% in fraud and 8% in theft offences. | Offences involving knives also rose 6%, with police recording 40,829 offences, excluding figures for Greater Manchester which were omitted from the yearly comparison for technical reasons. If those are included then 44,443 offences with a knife or sharp instrument were recorded. The ONS said there were rises in other crime types, including an 11% increase in robbery, 12% in fraud and 8% in theft offences. |
| The ONS said the picture was mixed, with no significant change in overall crime and some apparent falls in certain offences. | The ONS said the picture was mixed, with no significant change in overall crime and some apparent falls in certain offences. |
| Thus firearms offences fell 2% to 6,525 recorded incidents, burglary declined by 3% to 424,846 offences, and computer misuse fell by 28% to 976,000 offences. | Thus firearms offences fell 2% to 6,525 recorded incidents, burglary declined by 3% to 424,846 offences, and computer misuse fell by 28% to 976,000 offences. |
| Overall crime year on year rose by 2%, which the ONS said was not statistically significant. | |
| In its commentary the ONS said Britons were now less likely to suffer any type of crime than in the mid-1990s: “The likelihood of being a victim of crime has fallen considerably over the long term. | |
| “Around 40 in 100 adults were estimated to have been a victim of crime in 1995. This was before the survey included fraud and computer misuse in its coverage. Based on crimes comparable with those measured in the 1995 survey, 15 in 100 adults were victims of crime in the year ending December 2018.” | |
| Alexa Bradley from the ONS Centre for Crime and Justice said: “When we look at the overall level of crime, there has been no significant change over the last year. | |
| “However, it is important to look at each crime type separately because the picture is very mixed. Even within crime types we have seen differences. Robbery and vehicle offences have increased, whereas burglary has decreased. Lower-volume high-harm violence involving knives has risen, whereas offences involving firearms have decreased.” | “However, it is important to look at each crime type separately because the picture is very mixed. Even within crime types we have seen differences. Robbery and vehicle offences have increased, whereas burglary has decreased. Lower-volume high-harm violence involving knives has risen, whereas offences involving firearms have decreased.” |
| Crime has become a politically charged issue, with Labour and many in the police blaming government cuts for crime increasing as officer numbers fell. | |
| Ashley Bertie, the assistant police and crime commissioner for the West Midlands, said: “These statistics show crime is continuing to rise in the West Midlands and across England and Wales. This further emphasises the need for a long-term funding solution for police forces, which we have been consistently campaigning on. These statistics should be a wake-up call for the government to ensure they give policing the funding it needs.” | Ashley Bertie, the assistant police and crime commissioner for the West Midlands, said: “These statistics show crime is continuing to rise in the West Midlands and across England and Wales. This further emphasises the need for a long-term funding solution for police forces, which we have been consistently campaigning on. These statistics should be a wake-up call for the government to ensure they give policing the funding it needs.” |
| Victim Support spokesman Alex Mayes said: “It’s deeply concerning to see homicides continue to rise and we know from working with those bereaved by murder and manslaughter through our national homicide service just how devastating the impact is on family and friends, witnesses to the crime and the wider community.” | |
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