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17 July 2008
Statistics for 2007-08 show historic falls in crime across England and Wales.
The annual crime statistics report indicates that the risk of being a victim of crime has fallen from 24% to 22%, the lowest level recorded since the crime survey first began in 1981.
Report is thorough
The report released this week includes results from both the British Crime Survey (BCS) and from police records.
The BCS is a victimisation survey, in which adults are asked about their own experiences of crime. This process can provide a reflection of the true extent of crime because it includes crimes not reported to the police.
Police recorded crime statistics accurately measure trends in well-reported crimes, and are an important indicator of police workload, and can be used for local crime pattern analysis.
There can be slight differences between statistics from the two processes.
Crime dropped in nearly every category
Overall, the BCS shows crime down 10% compared with last year, while police recorded figures show crime down by 9%.
Decreases were recorded in nearly every category, including:
- violent crime down 12% according to the BCS
- police recorded sex offences down 7%
- vandalism down 10% according to the BCS
- police recorded 'violence against a person' down 8%
- vehicle-related thefts down 11% according to the BCS
- home burglaries reported to police down 4%
These new drops in crime build on already historic reductions over recent years.
Since 1997, crime measured by the BCS has fallen 39%, with violent crime down 40% and burglaries down by 55%.
Government crime reduction goals exceeded
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said everybody involved - police, local authorities, the health service and voluntary agencies - all worked hard to lower crime levels.
'Three years ago we set ourselves the tough challenge to reduce all crime by 15%,' she said. 'I'm extremely pleased that today’s figures show that we have exceeded this, with an overall crime reduction of 18%.'
However, while these figures show good progress, she said there is still more to be done.
Although violent crime has fallen substantially, 'knives are still being used in the most serious violent incidents.
'The Youth Crime Action Plan published this week is just one part of a comprehensive package of tough enforcement and intensive prevention measures we have put in place to tackle violent crime wherever it occurs.'
