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Crime statistics 'need overhaul' Crime statistics 'need overhaul'
(about 2 hours later)
The way crime statistics are produced needs a "radical overhaul", a Home Office review has concluded.The way crime statistics are produced needs a "radical overhaul", a Home Office review has concluded.
The report says the current system misses out significant groups of victims and that some crime definitions are "confusing and misleading". The report says the current system misses out significant groups of victims and that some definitions of crime are "confusing and misleading".
The study, commissioned by former home secretary Charles Clarke, urges a new system with more localised statistics.The study, commissioned by former home secretary Charles Clarke, urges a new system with more localised statistics.
Figures currently come from two sources - recorded crime and interviews with residents for the British Crime Survey.Figures currently come from two sources - recorded crime and interviews with residents for the British Crime Survey.
The report adds that the collection of data should be reviewed to ensure "independence and integrity".The report adds that the collection of data should be reviewed to ensure "independence and integrity".
The review says police recorded crime figures ignore the 60% of offences that go unreported.
We welcome this report to help us ensure that the public have a better understanding and greater trust in crime statistics Home Office spokesman
The British Crime Survey does not capture crimes committed against corporate victims, those under 16 and adults not living in "normal" households, it adds.
The report notes that about half of all of what is classed as violent crime involves no physical injury, including offences such as bigamy.
National figures are misleading for most local areas because "crime is very skewed in its geographical distribution" - which means most neighbourhoods will have a picture of crime risk which is higher than it actually is.
Review chairman Professor Adrian Smith said it was vital for the public to have an accurate picture of crime.
"It's very important that the public trusts crime statistics and if you have statistics that the public perceive to be in conflict with their direct individual experiences, or uses, categories or definitions that don't seem commonsensical, or leave out whole areas of criminal activity, you're going to get an undermining of confidence and trust," he told the BBC.
Public trust
In the report he said the recommendations would provide the basis for changes which would do "much to restore public trust and confidence".
The independent review was carried out by leading statisticians, police officials and criminologists.The independent review was carried out by leading statisticians, police officials and criminologists.
Recent results from the British Crime Survey suggested crime has fallen to its lowest level for 25 years. The Home Office said the findings will help it decide the best way of collecting and reporting statistics in the future.
However, the review's chairman Adrian Smith said the survey was beginning to "lose credibility" because it did not include the full range of criminality, such as commercial crime and offences against under-16s. A spokesman said: "We welcome this report to help us ensure that the public have a better understanding and greater trust in crime statistics."
The review was commission because of concern that public trust in the crime figures had declined so much that it was not possible to have a proper debate about criminal justice policies.