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| Risk of suffering crime 'rises' | Risk of suffering crime 'rises' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The risk of becoming a victim of crime in England and Wales is rising for the first time since 1995, figures suggest. | The risk of becoming a victim of crime in England and Wales is rising for the first time since 1995, figures suggest. |
| The British Crime Survey, regarded as the most reliable measure of crime by the Home Office, said the risk had risen one percentage point to 24.3%. | The British Crime Survey, regarded as the most reliable measure of crime by the Home Office, said the risk had risen one percentage point to 24.3%. |
| In a separate measure, the number of crimes reported to police had fallen 3% in the third quarter of 2006 compared with the same period the previous year. | In a separate measure, the number of crimes reported to police had fallen 3% in the third quarter of 2006 compared with the same period the previous year. |
| Both recorded crime and the BCS suggested rises in robberies. | Both recorded crime and the BCS suggested rises in robberies. |
| The risk of becoming a victim of crime is still vastly lower than its peak of 40% in 1995. | The risk of becoming a victim of crime is still vastly lower than its peak of 40% in 1995. |
| The number of robberies recorded in England and Wales between July and September last year rose 1% compared with the same period in 2005, figures show. | The number of robberies recorded in England and Wales between July and September last year rose 1% compared with the same period in 2005, figures show. |
| And the BCS showed robberies up 14% over the whole of last year, measured from October 2005 to September 2006. | And the BCS showed robberies up 14% over the whole of last year, measured from October 2005 to September 2006. |
| BRITISH CRIME SURVEY Vandalism: Up 11%Domestic burglary: Down 4%All vehicle thefts: No changeThefts from the person: Up 14%Violent crime: Up 2%All crime: Up 4% | |
| Overall recorded crime fell to 1,359,300 offences in the third quarter, but drug offences rose 9% to 45,800. The rise has previously been blamed on increased warnings for cannabis possession. | Overall recorded crime fell to 1,359,300 offences in the third quarter, but drug offences rose 9% to 45,800. The rise has previously been blamed on increased warnings for cannabis possession. |
| The BCS also suggested an 11% rise in vandalism over the last year. | The BCS also suggested an 11% rise in vandalism over the last year. |
| 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 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 same qualification applied to the BCS's evidence of a 14% rise in robbery. | The same qualification applied to the BCS's evidence of a 14% rise in robbery. |
| 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. |
| But some criticise the BCS as it is subject to sampling errors and also makes no measure of crime among under-16s, a key group for crime trends such as mobile phone theft. | But some criticise the BCS as it is subject to sampling errors and also makes no measure of crime among under-16s, a key group for crime trends such as mobile phone theft. |