This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8636798.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Figures reveal 7% fall in crime Figures reveal 7% fall in crime
(40 minutes later)
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.
But the British Crime Survey statistics suggest that violent crime had increased by 1% and instances of violence which caused injury rose 4%. The British Crime Survey found that muggings were down 21% over the year and burglary and vandalism also fell.
Domestic burglaries fell by 3% and robberies were down by 5%, according to the police figures. 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.