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Labour crime claims 'misleading' Labour crime claims 'misleading'
(about 2 hours later)
Government claims of successes on law and order since 1997 are "overstated" and "misleading", a study has said.Government claims of successes on law and order since 1997 are "overstated" and "misleading", a study has said.
The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, at London's King's College, said billions spent on reform had not yielded significant improvements.The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, at London's King's College, said billions spent on reform had not yielded significant improvements.
Spending on law and order has risen dramatically and proportionately now costs more than the US, the study said. Spending on law and order had risen dramatically and proportionately now cost more than in the US, it said.
The Home Office said the analysis was wrong and pointed to record numbers of police officers and prison places.The Home Office said the analysis was wrong and pointed to record numbers of police officers and prison places.
But the King's College report says questions remain over value for money. Richard Garside, who helped to write the report, said the number of convictions had actually fallen since the late 1990s.
On close inspection, it says, successes in cutting crime are not impressive, with a rise in the number of killings.
This report betrays a history of fiddled figures and doubtful claims David DavisShadow home secretaryThis report betrays a history of fiddled figures and doubtful claims David DavisShadow home secretary
Fewer offences result in a conviction, in spite of the government's claim that more are brought to justice. "What we have seen is a massive expansion of non-conviction offences brought to justice," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
According to the report, one of the "most conspicuous failures" is on re-offending, with targets modified, missed or dropped. These included "things like cautions, penalty notices and other administrative means of hitting targets", he said.
Shadow home secretary David Davis said the widespread use of fines and cautions were being used to manipulate the figures. He conceded that there had been a decrease in burglaries and car crime, but said that was more to do with improvements in security systems than government policy.
Straightforward targets
The report, sponsored by the Sunday Times and the Hadley Trust, said "on the face of it, Labour's record on crime is very good".
It found that the government had hit many of its targets - the official crime rate falling by 35% since 1997, and a 15% reduction in crime in the five years to 2007-2008.
But the report added: "In reality, [the targets] were relatively straightforward to achieve, having been set on the basis of existing trends continuing regardless of government action."
It also pointed to a rise in the number of killings and claimed that one of the "most conspicuous failures" was on reoffending - with targets being modified, missed or dropped.
Shadow home secretary David Davis said the widespread use of fines and cautions was being used to manipulate the figures.
"This report betrays a history of fiddled figures and doubtful claims. For example, of the total number of offenders brought to 'justice', convictions have actually fallen from 69% in 2003 to 53% in 2006."This report betrays a history of fiddled figures and doubtful claims. For example, of the total number of offenders brought to 'justice', convictions have actually fallen from 69% in 2003 to 53% in 2006.
"The rest have been provided by gimmicks such as fines and increased use of cautions, meaning actual and effective justice is not being delivered.""The rest have been provided by gimmicks such as fines and increased use of cautions, meaning actual and effective justice is not being delivered."