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Crime 'stable' but robbery rises Crime 'stable' but robbery rises
(about 1 hour later)
Crime in England and Wales has remained stable during the past year, according to Home Office figures.Crime in England and Wales has remained stable during the past year, according to Home Office figures.
Police recorded the first fall in overall violence in eight years, but drug offences and robbery went up.Police recorded the first fall in overall violence in eight years, but drug offences and robbery went up.
The figures also indicate 24-hour drinking laws have not changed rates of alcohol-fuelled crime, but have merely shifted incidents to the early hours.The figures also indicate 24-hour drinking laws have not changed rates of alcohol-fuelled crime, but have merely shifted incidents to the early hours.
The Home Office said it needed to boost public confidence in statistics because 65% believed crime was rising.The Home Office said it needed to boost public confidence in statistics because 65% believed crime was rising.
Picture of crime
The figures show the risk of being a victim of crime - at 24% - has increased by one per cent since 2005/6, but is still lower than the peak of 40% recorded by the British Crime Survey (BCS) in 1995.The figures show the risk of being a victim of crime - at 24% - has increased by one per cent since 2005/6, but is still lower than the peak of 40% recorded by the British Crime Survey (BCS) in 1995.
The report released by the Home Office combines figures from the BCS - which polls people's experiences of crime - and crimes recorded by the police.The report released by the Home Office combines figures from the BCS - which polls people's experiences of crime - and crimes recorded by the police.
The two sets of figures can show some differing results, but the two together are considered by the government to give a more "comprehensive picture of crime" than could be gleaned from either source alone.The two sets of figures can show some differing results, but the two together are considered by the government to give a more "comprehensive picture of crime" than could be gleaned from either source alone.
All crime was up 3% according to BCS - which the report said represented no significant change for the second year running - while the 5.4m crimes recorded by police had fallen by 2% since 2005/6.
Police recorded crime showed robbery had increased by 3% and drug offences by 9%.
On the decrease were domestic burglary and theft - down 3% and 4% respectively - and sexual offences had fallen by 7%.
The BCS survey suggested vandalism had increased by 10%, which the report said was the only BCS crime category to show a statistically significant change since 2005/6.
While the overall BCS figures for violent crimes showed a 5% increase - from 2,349 to 2,471 - Home Office statisticians said the rise was not significant. The figure included a 6% rise in woundings and a 9% rise in assaults with no injury.
Police figures showed a 1% drop in the number of violent crimes.
CRIME FIGURES IN FULL Crime in England and Wales 2006-07 [270 MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereCRIME FIGURES IN FULL Crime in England and Wales 2006-07 [270 MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
On publishing the annual figures the Home Office said it needed to rethink how it describes some crimes after an independent report last year warned the public do not understand the statistics, leading to a loss in confidence.On publishing the annual figures the Home Office said it needed to rethink how it describes some crimes after an independent report last year warned the public do not understand the statistics, leading to a loss in confidence.
Ministers say they want a debate on what makes a violent crime because some of the offences currently classed as violent do not involve injuries.Ministers say they want a debate on what makes a violent crime because some of the offences currently classed as violent do not involve injuries.
It also said crime rates varied so much from area to area that public confidence in statistics had to be boosted by introducing detailed local figures showing the true level of crime in neighbourhoods.It also said crime rates varied so much from area to area that public confidence in statistics had to be boosted by introducing detailed local figures showing the true level of crime in neighbourhoods.
Police forces would soon start publishing local monthly crime figures to give the public a better idea of what was happening, they added.Police forces would soon start publishing local monthly crime figures to give the public a better idea of what was happening, they added.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "One of the biggest challenges we face is that public perceptions of crime levels remain high. Every community faces its own unique challenges when it comes to crime."Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "One of the biggest challenges we face is that public perceptions of crime levels remain high. Every community faces its own unique challenges when it comes to crime."
Funds injectionFunds injection
As the latest crime figures were published ministers were preparing to launch a strategy to move public perception of crime into line with falling figures.As the latest crime figures were published ministers were preparing to launch a strategy to move public perception of crime into line with falling figures.
Despite crime statistics having dropped for the last decade, British people are among the most fearful in Europe.Despite crime statistics having dropped for the last decade, British people are among the most fearful in Europe.
Meanwhile, police chiefs have been criticised by a committee of MPs who concluded that giving police forces extra cash had not helped reduce crime.Meanwhile, police chiefs have been criticised by a committee of MPs who concluded that giving police forces extra cash had not helped reduce crime.
The Home Affairs select committee found that the drop in levels of crime had taken place before the injection of funds began.The Home Affairs select committee found that the drop in levels of crime had taken place before the injection of funds began.
In real terms, police budgets went up in England and Wales by 40% from £8.5bn in 1996/7 to £12bn in 2006/7 and the number of officers rose by 11%, according to a report by the committee.In real terms, police budgets went up in England and Wales by 40% from £8.5bn in 1996/7 to £12bn in 2006/7 and the number of officers rose by 11%, according to a report by the committee.
HAVE YOUR SAY To be persuaded crime is going down, look at the government figures. To be persuaded it is not, look out the window B Anderson Send us your comments But its acting chairman, David Winnick, said: "We know the police have had a major increase in funding over the past decade but it is much more difficult to tell what they have done with it."HAVE YOUR SAY To be persuaded crime is going down, look at the government figures. To be persuaded it is not, look out the window B Anderson Send us your comments But its acting chairman, David Winnick, said: "We know the police have had a major increase in funding over the past decade but it is much more difficult to tell what they have done with it."
BBC home affairs correspondent Rory MacLean said that the popularity of measures like the introduction of neighbourhood policing teams in England and Wales has informed at least part of the new crime strategy.BBC home affairs correspondent Rory MacLean said that the popularity of measures like the introduction of neighbourhood policing teams in England and Wales has informed at least part of the new crime strategy.
The Home Office is also scheduled to respond to the Smith Review of crime statistics, chaired by Professor Adrian Smith, which concluded in November 2006 that the BCS was "losing credibility".The Home Office is also scheduled to respond to the Smith Review of crime statistics, chaired by Professor Adrian Smith, which concluded in November 2006 that the BCS was "losing credibility".