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| Crime figures show robbery rise | Crime figures show robbery rise |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The number of robberies recorded in England and Wales rose 1% in the third quarter of 2006 compared with the same period in 2005, figures show. | The number of robberies recorded in England and Wales rose 1% in the third quarter of 2006 compared with the same period in 2005, figures show. |
| But the British Crime Survey, regarded by many as the most reliable measure, showed robberies up 14% over the whole of last year. | But the British Crime Survey, regarded by many as the most reliable measure, showed robberies up 14% over the whole of last year. |
| Overall recorded crime fell by 3% to 1,359,300 offences in the third quarter, but drug offences rose 9%. | Overall recorded crime fell by 3% to 1,359,300 offences in the third quarter, but drug offences rose 9%. |
| The BCS also suggested an 11% rise in vandalism over the last year. | |
| In December, it was revealed that the Home Office is falling behind its five-year target for reducing crime by 15% by 2008. | In December, it was revealed that the Home Office is falling behind its five-year target for reducing crime by 15% by 2008. |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair congratulated police on the recorded crime figures. | Prime Minister Tony Blair congratulated police on the recorded crime figures. |
| "The most feared crime - violence that causes injury - is down 7%. Sexual offences are down 4% and crimes involving firearms are down 14% compared with last year," he said. | "The most feared crime - violence that causes injury - is down 7%. Sexual offences are down 4% and crimes involving firearms are down 14% compared with last year," he said. |
| Mindless vandalism | Mindless vandalism |
| The BCS - measured from October 2005 to September 2006 - corroborated the fall in violence causing injury, with a drop of 9%, although it did show a 15% rise in violence not causing injury. But officials emphasised that neither shift was regarded as statistically significant and could be subject to sampling error. | |
| The large and statistically significant rise of 11% in vandalism shown by the BCS comes after years of government efforts to curb anti-social behaviour. | The large and statistically significant rise of 11% in vandalism shown by the BCS comes after years of government efforts to curb anti-social behaviour. |
| Mr Blair said: "The public are not going to put up with mindless vandalism - and I am pleased that more people are reporting cases of graffiti. | Mr Blair said: "The public are not going to put up with mindless vandalism - and I am pleased that more people are reporting cases of graffiti. |
| "Of course there is more to do. Every victim is one too many. We need to continue the drive against street crime and the use of firearms." | "Of course there is more to do. Every victim is one too many. We need to continue the drive against street crime and the use of firearms." |
| The BCS sees people interviewed in their homes about crime they have suffered. | The BCS sees people interviewed in their homes about crime they have suffered. |
| It is regarded by many as a more reliable measure as the alternative, recorded crime, can be heavily influenced by the prioritising of police resources as well as people's fears that certain crimes will not be pursued and are therefore not worth reporting to police. | It is regarded by many as a more reliable measure as the alternative, recorded crime, can be heavily influenced by the prioritising of police resources as well as people's fears that certain crimes will not be pursued and are therefore not worth reporting to police. |