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Crime statistics for England & Wales: what's happening to each offence? Crime statistics for England & Wales: what's happening to each offence?
(5 months later)
Crime in England and Wales has fallen by 8% over the past year according to statistics released today.Crime in England and Wales has fallen by 8% over the past year according to statistics released today.
In total, 3,700,349 crimes were recorded by police between January and December 2012. Taking the long view, an even bigger decline can be seen in these Home Office figures, with police recorded crime down 38% since 2002.In total, 3,700,349 crimes were recorded by police between January and December 2012. Taking the long view, an even bigger decline can be seen in these Home Office figures, with police recorded crime down 38% since 2002.
Most striking perhaps is the fact that this decline has occurred across so many categories of crime. Since 2012, here has been a 16% reduction in motor vehicle theft, a 15% decline in criminal damage and a 13% decline in robbery. In fact, the only category of crime to show an increase is theft from the person which rose by 8% to 107,471 police-recorded offences.Most striking perhaps is the fact that this decline has occurred across so many categories of crime. Since 2012, here has been a 16% reduction in motor vehicle theft, a 15% decline in criminal damage and a 13% decline in robbery. In fact, the only category of crime to show an increase is theft from the person which rose by 8% to 107,471 police-recorded offences.
Alan Travis has more here, where he quotes Jeff Farrar, of the Association of Chief Police Officers:Alan Travis has more here, where he quotes Jeff Farrar, of the Association of Chief Police Officers:
We cannot be complacent and while overall these results are positive the police service will need to adapt and innovate to continue bringing down crime as their budgets decrease.We cannot be complacent and while overall these results are positive the police service will need to adapt and innovate to continue bringing down crime as their budgets decrease.
Below is a selection of other interesting statistics from the latest figures:Below is a selection of other interesting statistics from the latest figures:
Homicides vs attempted murdersHomicides vs attempted murders
551 homicides (includes murder, manslaughter and infanticide) were reported in the year ending December 2012, a considerable drop on the previous year's total of 638. Homicides are now down to around half of the figure for 2001/2.551 homicides (includes murder, manslaughter and infanticide) were reported in the year ending December 2012, a considerable drop on the previous year's total of 638. Homicides are now down to around half of the figure for 2001/2.
Attempted murders also fell, but by a smaller proportion, dropping by 7.6% in comparison to a fall of 13.6% in homicides.Attempted murders also fell, but by a smaller proportion, dropping by 7.6% in comparison to a fall of 13.6% in homicides.
Reported vs recordedReported vs recorded
It's important to bear in mind that today's release focuses on police recorded crimes. These are provided to the Home Office by police authorities and forces, not all of whom collect data with the same precision according to a 2007 audit. This is problematic because it means that a higher number in a given area may indicate an improvement in reporting by police rather than a rise in criminality.It's important to bear in mind that today's release focuses on police recorded crimes. These are provided to the Home Office by police authorities and forces, not all of whom collect data with the same precision according to a 2007 audit. This is problematic because it means that a higher number in a given area may indicate an improvement in reporting by police rather than a rise in criminality.
What's more, crimes recorded by police are unlikely to represent the total number of crimes that take place. To understand this better, it's useful to also consider the CSEW which asks more than 40,000 people face-to-face about their experiences of, attitudes about and perceptions of a range of crimes.What's more, crimes recorded by police are unlikely to represent the total number of crimes that take place. To understand this better, it's useful to also consider the CSEW which asks more than 40,000 people face-to-face about their experiences of, attitudes about and perceptions of a range of crimes.
Though police-recorded crimes are down 8%, the number of crimes reported in the survey has fallen by 5%. 8.9 million crimes were reported in the survey in the year ending December 2012, while the police recorded 3.7 million crimes in this period.Though police-recorded crimes are down 8%, the number of crimes reported in the survey has fallen by 5%. 8.9 million crimes were reported in the survey in the year ending December 2012, while the police recorded 3.7 million crimes in this period.
The gap is even more noticeable when looking at specific categories of crime. While police record a 10% reduction in bicycle crime, crime survey responses show a 12% increase. This may suggest that for smaller offences, individuals are less likely to report crimes to the police.The gap is even more noticeable when looking at specific categories of crime. While police record a 10% reduction in bicycle crime, crime survey responses show a 12% increase. This may suggest that for smaller offences, individuals are less likely to report crimes to the police.
Perception of crimePerception of crime
Another of the more interesting figures is that of the perception of crime. The CSEW asks people whether they think crime is getting worse where they live and nationally. So, people think crime is getting worse - but not where they live. It's the gap between what we know is going on and what we think is going on.Another of the more interesting figures is that of the perception of crime. The CSEW asks people whether they think crime is getting worse where they live and nationally. So, people think crime is getting worse - but not where they live. It's the gap between what we know is going on and what we think is going on.
This might reflect public pessimism about the effectiveness of crime prevention. The survey poses the statement 'police and local council are dealing with the anti-social behaviour and crime issues that matter in the local area' - to which 60% of people agreed last year. When faced with the statement 'the criminal justice system as a whole is effective' just 44% agreed.This might reflect public pessimism about the effectiveness of crime prevention. The survey poses the statement 'police and local council are dealing with the anti-social behaviour and crime issues that matter in the local area' - to which 60% of people agreed last year. When faced with the statement 'the criminal justice system as a whole is effective' just 44% agreed.
FraudFraud
For the first time, the statistics include new figures from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau showing a breakdown of fraud in the UK. This differs from the police recorded crime - for starters, there's more of them: 441,174 recorded in 2012, compared to around 142,000 by police in the last financial year. Of that, the vast majority is bank fraud: online bank accounts, credit card and cheque fraud accounting for over 50% of all fraud. The NFIB operates a telephone data recording system and the organisation's statistics combine with police figures.For the first time, the statistics include new figures from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau showing a breakdown of fraud in the UK. This differs from the police recorded crime - for starters, there's more of them: 441,174 recorded in 2012, compared to around 142,000 by police in the last financial year. Of that, the vast majority is bank fraud: online bank accounts, credit card and cheque fraud accounting for over 50% of all fraud. The NFIB operates a telephone data recording system and the organisation's statistics combine with police figures.
It also records an interesting breakdown of computer fraud, with hacking of social media and email accounts for 1,565 offences.It also records an interesting breakdown of computer fraud, with hacking of social media and email accounts for 1,565 offences.
This is the first year the data is out - next year we should be able to start comparing. It's probably the tip of the iceberg: many fraud offences are not reported to anybody.This is the first year the data is out - next year we should be able to start comparing. It's probably the tip of the iceberg: many fraud offences are not reported to anybody.
We've extracted the key figures for you and made them available to download via the link below. What can you do with them?We've extracted the key figures for you and made them available to download via the link below. What can you do with them?
Data summaryData summary
Crime by police force areaCrime by police force area
Rate is per 1,000 population. Click heading to sort table. Download this dataRate is per 1,000 population. Click heading to sort table. Download this data
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