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Cumbria 'safest county to live' Cumbria 'safest county to live'
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Cumbria is the safest place to live in England and Wales in relation to the number of killings, figures show.Cumbria is the safest place to live in England and Wales in relation to the number of killings, figures show.
Overall during 2006-07 there were 13.7 killings per 1m population, but there were none in Cumbria, which shared a five-year low with Dyfed-Powys.Overall during 2006-07 there were 13.7 killings per 1m population, but there were none in Cumbria, which shared a five-year low with Dyfed-Powys.
London and Manchester, the scenes of a spate of youth shootings, recorded the highest rate of killings. London (22.4 per 1m) and Manchester (21.9) - the scenes of a spate of youth shootings - recorded the highest rates.
But the Home Office figures show a 31% rise in deaths among under-16s was down to more killings by a parent. The Home Office figures also show a 31% rise in deaths among under-16s was down to more killings by a parent.
While the rate for murders, manslaughters and infanticide are higher than the previous year, the long-term trend remains down, contrary to some public perceptions.While the rate for murders, manslaughters and infanticide are higher than the previous year, the long-term trend remains down, contrary to some public perceptions.
HOMICIDES IN RECENT YEARS LEAST KILLINGS Cumbria: None in 2006/07, 16 over five yearsDyfed-Powys: 2 in 2006/07, 16 over five years MOST KILLINGS London: 168 in 2006/07, 876 over five yearsManchester: 56 in 2006/07, 441 over five years Source: Home Office
According to the figures, police recorded 757 killings in the year from April 2006, down 2% on the previous year's 769.
Three-quarters of victims were male, with those most likely to be killed aged between 21 and 29.
But despite high-profile media and political attention to guns, the most likely method of killing involved a knife or other "sharp instrument" - used in 35% of incidents.
The figures show that firearms offences accounted for 8% of deaths over the period - that represented 59 killings, up 10 on the previous year.
More than half of firearms incidents (excluding air guns) occurred in London, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands - confirming that gun crime is tightly focused on a number of key urban areas.