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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Home Office says crime down by 9% | Home Office says crime down by 9% |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Recorded crime in England and Wales fell by 9% from July to September last year compared with the same period in the previous year. | Recorded crime in England and Wales fell by 9% from July to September last year compared with the same period in the previous year. |
| The Home Office said there was a 4% rise in gun crime during the third quarter of 2007 compared with the same period in 2006. | The Home Office said there was a 4% rise in gun crime during the third quarter of 2007 compared with the same period in 2006. |
| There were 10,182 firearms offences in the year to September, compared with 9,755 in the previous year. | There were 10,182 firearms offences in the year to September, compared with 9,755 in the previous year. |
| The number of recorded drug offences rose by 21% in the 2007 third quarter. | The number of recorded drug offences rose by 21% in the 2007 third quarter. |
| Rise in threats | Rise in threats |
| The quarterly statistics of recorded crime reported that violence against the person fell by 8% and robbery by 17%. | |
| The figures also showed that during the 12 months to September there were six fewer gun-related deaths and that serious injuries from guns had dropped by 16% to 368. | The figures also showed that during the 12 months to September there were six fewer gun-related deaths and that serious injuries from guns had dropped by 16% to 368. |
| But the 4% overall rise in gun crime was made up of a 4% rise in slight injuries to 2,728, and a 6% rise in threats and incidents that did not result in injury. | But the 4% overall rise in gun crime was made up of a 4% rise in slight injuries to 2,728, and a 6% rise in threats and incidents that did not result in injury. |
| We will tighten our grip on violence and anti-social behaviour Home Secretary Jacqui Smith | |
| However, the Home Office also said that according to the British Crime Survey (BCS) - which is a separate set of figures based on interviews with members of the public - crime in England and Wales remains stable. | |
| The Home Office said: "For the crime types it covers, the BCS provides a more reliable measure of trends in crime as it has a consistent methodology and is unaffected by changes in levels of reporting to the police, recording practice or police activity." | |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "These latest crime figures contain some excellent results and I am particularly pleased that the risk of being a victim of crime is now at a historically low level. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "These latest crime figures contain some excellent results and I am particularly pleased that the risk of being a victim of crime is now at a historically low level. |
| "Enforcement is key part of our approach to tackling drug harm and I welcome further evidence that police are maintaining a tight grip on drugs offending." | "Enforcement is key part of our approach to tackling drug harm and I welcome further evidence that police are maintaining a tight grip on drugs offending." |
| She added: "In 2008 we will tighten our grip on violence and anti-social behaviour, working with police and local partners." | She added: "In 2008 we will tighten our grip on violence and anti-social behaviour, working with police and local partners." |