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Police miscount serious violence Police miscount serious violence
(about 2 hours later)
A number of police forces in England and Wales have been undercounting some of the most serious violent crimes, the government has admitted.A number of police forces in England and Wales have been undercounting some of the most serious violent crimes, the government has admitted.
It means figures for serious violent crimes rose by 22% compared to last year - rather than showing a fall as previous figures appeared to indicate.It means figures for serious violent crimes rose by 22% compared to last year - rather than showing a fall as previous figures appeared to indicate.
The mistake happened when some crimes classed as "grievous bodily harm with intent" were recorded as less serious.The mistake happened when some crimes classed as "grievous bodily harm with intent" were recorded as less serious.
Figures say overall crime is down, and ministers say these can be trusted.Figures say overall crime is down, and ministers say these can be trusted.
The government says it does not know how long the undercounting has been going on - leading to concerns that figures on violent crime may have been wrong for up to a decade.The government says it does not know how long the undercounting has been going on - leading to concerns that figures on violent crime may have been wrong for up to a decade.
A former Home Office crime consultant told the BBC the government had been "hiding behind" its changes in the crime counting rules.A former Home Office crime consultant told the BBC the government had been "hiding behind" its changes in the crime counting rules.
Professor Marian Fitzgerald, a criminologist at the University of Kent's Crime and Justice Centre, said the long-term trend of increasing violent crime was now "catching up" with the government.Professor Marian Fitzgerald, a criminologist at the University of Kent's Crime and Justice Centre, said the long-term trend of increasing violent crime was now "catching up" with the government.
Let's be clear, this isn't crime that wasn't being recorded or wasn't being reported or wasn't being dealt with Jacqui Smith, Home SecretaryLet's be clear, this isn't crime that wasn't being recorded or wasn't being reported or wasn't being dealt with Jacqui Smith, Home Secretary
The Conservatives said the new figures "fatally undermined" government claims that violent crime was in decline.The Conservatives said the new figures "fatally undermined" government claims that violent crime was in decline.
Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said: "They betray a government that is completely out of touch with what is going on, on our streets and in our communities."Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said: "They betray a government that is completely out of touch with what is going on, on our streets and in our communities."
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne called for the Office of National Statistics - rather than the Home Office - to be given direct responsibility for crime figures.Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne called for the Office of National Statistics - rather than the Home Office - to be given direct responsibility for crime figures.
But police minister Vernon Coaker said the "clarification" did not mean the government had lost faith in its crime statistics.But police minister Vernon Coaker said the "clarification" did not mean the government had lost faith in its crime statistics.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith insisted all the crimes in question had been investigated by the police.Home Secretary Jacqui Smith insisted all the crimes in question had been investigated by the police.
She told the BBC: "What the statisticians are clear about is that the increases in the most serious forms of violence have actually in terms of numbers been more than counteracted by the decreases in less serious violence."She told the BBC: "What the statisticians are clear about is that the increases in the most serious forms of violence have actually in terms of numbers been more than counteracted by the decreases in less serious violence."
FORCES WHICH RECOUNTED SERIOUS VIOLENCE HumbersideDerbyshireNorth WalesCambridgeshireThames Valley 18 forces overall reported higher levels of serious violence13 including above reported backMetropolitan Police said it could not meet deadline An 'almighty embarrassment' FORCES WHICH RECOUNTED SERIOUS VIOLENCE HumbersideDerbyshireCleveland PoliceNorth WalesCambridgeshireThames Valley 18 forces overall reported higher levels of serious violence13 including above reported backMetropolitan Police said it could not meet deadline An 'almighty embarrassment'
The error was discovered when at least 18 out of 43 forces in England and Wales were asked to re-examine their figures, following the realisation that some serious assaults were being recorded in a lower category of offence.The error was discovered when at least 18 out of 43 forces in England and Wales were asked to re-examine their figures, following the realisation that some serious assaults were being recorded in a lower category of offence.
Crimes of "grievous bodily harm with intent" committed between April and June this year were being mistakenly recorded as lesser crimes.Crimes of "grievous bodily harm with intent" committed between April and June this year were being mistakenly recorded as lesser crimes.
When the figures were recounted using the correct classification, the official total showed serious violent crime had risen 22%.When the figures were recounted using the correct classification, the official total showed serious violent crime had risen 22%.
Previous measures under the old rules had shown decreases every quarter of up to 15%.Previous measures under the old rules had shown decreases every quarter of up to 15%.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith on undercounting crimeHome Secretary Jacqui Smith on undercounting crime
Two of the most serious categories of knife crime showed big increases.Two of the most serious categories of knife crime showed big increases.
Attempted murders in England and Wales involving a knife between April and June this year were 28% up on last year.Attempted murders in England and Wales involving a knife between April and June this year were 28% up on last year.
And assaults causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent rose by 29%.And assaults causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent rose by 29%.
However, the revised figures still show that overall crime and overall violent crime remain down on last year - a finding backed by the results of the British Crime Survey (BCS), also released on Thursday.However, the revised figures still show that overall crime and overall violent crime remain down on last year - a finding backed by the results of the British Crime Survey (BCS), also released on Thursday.
The BCS, which is a study of the experiences of victims, rather than police records, shows an overall decrease of 6% in the number of crimes compared to last year.The BCS, which is a study of the experiences of victims, rather than police records, shows an overall decrease of 6% in the number of crimes compared to last year.
Alcohol-fueled violenceAlcohol-fueled violence
The Home Office has refused to name the police forces asked to resubmit their crime figures.The Home Office has refused to name the police forces asked to resubmit their crime figures.
At least one of the 13 forces which complied - North Wales Police - said its crime figures were subsequently "audited, verified and found to be correct."At least one of the 13 forces which complied - North Wales Police - said its crime figures were subsequently "audited, verified and found to be correct."
However experts say that other forces who did not submit figures, may have been making the same mistake.However experts say that other forces who did not submit figures, may have been making the same mistake.
Among them is the Metropolitan Police who has now confirmed a 44% increase in offences of GBH with Intent offences between April and June this year.Among them is the Metropolitan Police who has now confirmed a 44% increase in offences of GBH with Intent offences between April and June this year.
On Thursday the Met confirmed it would suspend issuing figures on serious crime until it had worked out the best way of presenting them.On Thursday the Met confirmed it would suspend issuing figures on serious crime until it had worked out the best way of presenting them.
Keith Bristow, from the Association of Chief Police Officers, said "most, if not all" police forces in England and Wales, plus British Transport Police, were to some extent misinterpreting the guidance on recording grievous bodily harm with intent. Police figures are reflecting a long term trend increase in serious violence and the government are hiding behind changes in the counting rules to try to explain it away Professor Marian Fitzgerald How police missed the violenceKeith Bristow, from the Association of Chief Police Officers, said "most, if not all" police forces in England and Wales, plus British Transport Police, were to some extent misinterpreting the guidance on recording grievous bodily harm with intent. Police figures are reflecting a long term trend increase in serious violence and the government are hiding behind changes in the counting rules to try to explain it away Professor Marian Fitzgerald How police missed the violence
The government started to realise it had got its figures wrong earlier this year after Home Office clarified the guidance on crime reporting.The government started to realise it had got its figures wrong earlier this year after Home Office clarified the guidance on crime reporting.
Home Office statisticians discovered that 18 forces, were showing "above average" increases in GBH with intent.Home Office statisticians discovered that 18 forces, were showing "above average" increases in GBH with intent.
That suggested that they were the ones which had been misinterpreting the guidance the most.That suggested that they were the ones which had been misinterpreting the guidance the most.
Of these 18 forces, 13 were able to provide further information on their figures to the Home Office.Of these 18 forces, 13 were able to provide further information on their figures to the Home Office.
The types of offence that have been miscounted would include serious alcohol-fuelled violence where the attacker had intended serious harm - but the victim escaped significant injury.The types of offence that have been miscounted would include serious alcohol-fuelled violence where the attacker had intended serious harm - but the victim escaped significant injury.
Ms Smith said: "Let's be clear, this isn't crime that wasn't being recorded or wasn't being reported or wasn't being dealt with. It just wasn't being recorded in the category 'most serious violence'.Ms Smith said: "Let's be clear, this isn't crime that wasn't being recorded or wasn't being reported or wasn't being dealt with. It just wasn't being recorded in the category 'most serious violence'.
"So all of this crime has been dealt with.""So all of this crime has been dealt with."
CRIMES AFFECTED BY MISCOUNT Grievous Bodily Harm "with intent":Where attacker wants to inflict serious injuryIncidents include serious pub-fights, use of broken bottles etcProblem arose where victim escaped with minor or no injuriesSome officers previously classed these attacks as lesser assaults, but should have classed them as seriousMajority of forces correctly classified these incidents, but a minority did notCRIMES AFFECTED BY MISCOUNT Grievous Bodily Harm "with intent":Where attacker wants to inflict serious injuryIncidents include serious pub-fights, use of broken bottles etcProblem arose where victim escaped with minor or no injuriesSome officers previously classed these attacks as lesser assaults, but should have classed them as seriousMajority of forces correctly classified these incidents, but a minority did not
But Professor Fitzgerald said that the government was aware of the long trend of serious violent crime which had been rising over "several decades"But Professor Fitzgerald said that the government was aware of the long trend of serious violent crime which had been rising over "several decades"
She told the BBC: "It started to go up really quite steeply from the early 1990s.She told the BBC: "It started to go up really quite steeply from the early 1990s.
"The problem this government has got is that when it came to power it dismissed out of hand the trends in police recorded crime which were a fairly good measure of serious violence"The problem this government has got is that when it came to power it dismissed out of hand the trends in police recorded crime which were a fairly good measure of serious violence
"It preferred instead to rely on the British Crime Survey which is very poor at picking up violence.""It preferred instead to rely on the British Crime Survey which is very poor at picking up violence."
For good measure it has actually interfered with the police figures by keeping changing the ways in which they have been recorded.For good measure it has actually interfered with the police figures by keeping changing the ways in which they have been recorded.
"What's catching up with them now is the fact the police figures are reflecting that long term trend increase in serious violence. The government are hiding behind changes in the counting rules to try to explain it away.""What's catching up with them now is the fact the police figures are reflecting that long term trend increase in serious violence. The government are hiding behind changes in the counting rules to try to explain it away."


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