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Figures reveal 7% fall in crime | Figures reveal 7% fall in crime |
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The British Crime Survey and police-recorded figures show a 7% fall in crimes in 2009 compared to 2008. | The British Crime Survey and police-recorded figures show a 7% fall in crimes in 2009 compared to 2008. |
All main categories of crime were down except sexual offences, which were up by 2%, according to the police figures. | All main categories of crime were down except sexual offences, which were up by 2%, according to the police figures. |
The British Crime Survey found that muggings were down 21% over the year and burglary and vandalism also fell. | |
The research suggests that violent crime increased by 1% but officials who calculate the figures say the rise was not statistically significant. | |
The government uses two main measures of crime in England and Wales - actual offences recorded by the police and the BCS, which is a massive rolling survey of people's experiences of crime, whether or not they reported the incident. | |
According to the BCS figures for the calendar year to the end of 2009, burglary fell 12%, vandalism 12% and vehicle-related theft 11%. | |
These overall results are positive and a strong indication of the dedication of our workforce to keep the public safe Association of Chief Police Officers | |
Recorded crime by the police shows recorded violence fell by 3% and drugs offences were down 4%. | |
Police forces also recorded an 11% drop in criminal damage and a 5% fall in muggings and robberies. | |
Domestic burglary went down 3% and there was a 16% drop in offences against vehicles, which includes attempting to break into a car. | |
Chief Constable Keith Bristow, the lead spokesman on crime for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said the figures showed that police and local community safety partnerships were working. | |
"These overall results are positive and a strong indication of the dedication of our workforce to keep the public safe. | |
"We continue also to work towards helping people feel safer and more confident in the neighbourhoods where they live, through a visible and responsive police service that tackles the challenges which matter to people." | |
Experts in sexual offences believe that recent rises may be down to more women being prepared to contact police after they have been attacked. |