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| Police crime figures 'dead in the water', says City of London police chief | Police crime figures 'dead in the water', says City of London police chief |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Crime figures compiled by police are "dead in the water", one of Britain's most senior police officers has said. | Crime figures compiled by police are "dead in the water", one of Britain's most senior police officers has said. |
| Commissioner of City of London police Adrian Leppard said police figures provided only a "small prism of the harm" to communities. | Commissioner of City of London police Adrian Leppard said police figures provided only a "small prism of the harm" to communities. |
| Victim-based surveys offer more insight into offending levels, he said. | Victim-based surveys offer more insight into offending levels, he said. |
| But Chief Constable Jeff Farrar, national policing lead on crime statistics, said there was "a purpose" to gathering police crime data. | But Chief Constable Jeff Farrar, national policing lead on crime statistics, said there was "a purpose" to gathering police crime data. |
| Mr Leppard made his comments at a crime statistics conference, which also heard claims from academics that official Crime Survey of England and Wales (CSEAW) statistics underestimate violent crimes against women by 70%. | Mr Leppard made his comments at a crime statistics conference, which also heard claims from academics that official Crime Survey of England and Wales (CSEAW) statistics underestimate violent crimes against women by 70%. |
| 'Repeat offences' | |
| Professor Sylvia Walby, from Lancaster University, said statisticians "capped" the number of "repeat" offences at five per victim. | Professor Sylvia Walby, from Lancaster University, said statisticians "capped" the number of "repeat" offences at five per victim. |
| She said this had the effect of reducing reported levels of violence against women and domestic violence victims, because female victims were often targeted many times. | She said this had the effect of reducing reported levels of violence against women and domestic violence victims, because female victims were often targeted many times. |
| A peer-reviewed study carried out by Prof Walby suggested that without a cap, 45% of violent crimes would be against women. | A peer-reviewed study carried out by Prof Walby suggested that without a cap, 45% of violent crimes would be against women. |
| The Office for National Statistics, which is responsible for the CSEAW, said it was analysing Prof Walby's findings with a view to changing the cap - which is designed to stop huge fluctuations in crime levels based on small numbers of victims. | The Office for National Statistics, which is responsible for the CSEAW, said it was analysing Prof Walby's findings with a view to changing the cap - which is designed to stop huge fluctuations in crime levels based on small numbers of victims. |
| Head of crime statistics, John Flatley, said: "If repeat offences were not capped, there is a risk that a small number of cases involving multiple attacks on the same person could end up skewing results, making it very difficult to spot trends in crimes." | Head of crime statistics, John Flatley, said: "If repeat offences were not capped, there is a risk that a small number of cases involving multiple attacks on the same person could end up skewing results, making it very difficult to spot trends in crimes." |
| The comments from Mr Leppard about the police figures are thought to be the strongest by such a high-ranking officer. | The comments from Mr Leppard about the police figures are thought to be the strongest by such a high-ranking officer. |
| "Formal police-recorded crime I don't think has much value to us," Mr Leppard said, pointing out that there was 99% of under-reporting of economic crime. | "Formal police-recorded crime I don't think has much value to us," Mr Leppard said, pointing out that there was 99% of under-reporting of economic crime. |
| Unreported crimes | Unreported crimes |
| Much of his force's information on fraud came from liaising with banks and businesses which often did not report the crimes to police, he said. | Much of his force's information on fraud came from liaising with banks and businesses which often did not report the crimes to police, he said. |
| He called for victim-based surveys, such as the CSEAW, to be extended, pointing out that a move to include fraud and cyber crime in the survey this year would add three million offences to the figures. | He called for victim-based surveys, such as the CSEAW, to be extended, pointing out that a move to include fraud and cyber crime in the survey this year would add three million offences to the figures. |
| Chief Constable Farrar, of Gwent Police, said there was "a purpose" to having police crime data, but he acknowledged that the figures were incomplete and there was a danger of "dysfunctional behaviour" in a culture of target-setting. | Chief Constable Farrar, of Gwent Police, said there was "a purpose" to having police crime data, but he acknowledged that the figures were incomplete and there was a danger of "dysfunctional behaviour" in a culture of target-setting. |
| Lisa Harker, from the NSPCC, said the organisation had to send Freedom of Information Act requests to police forces in order to obtain data on child sex offences. | Lisa Harker, from the NSPCC, said the organisation had to send Freedom of Information Act requests to police forces in order to obtain data on child sex offences. |
| She said police collected information on the ages and gender of victims and alleged perpetrators, but did not routinely release it. | She said police collected information on the ages and gender of victims and alleged perpetrators, but did not routinely release it. |
| "Without the data we're left to guess as to what's really happening," she said. | "Without the data we're left to guess as to what's really happening," she said. |