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Crime statistics are manipulated, says police chief Crime statistics are manipulated, says police chief
(about 3 hours later)
An "obsession" with reducing crime is creating pressure on police to "manipulate" crime figures, a senior police officer has said.An "obsession" with reducing crime is creating pressure on police to "manipulate" crime figures, a senior police officer has said.
Derbyshire's Chief Constable Mick Creedon said numerous officers in "many forces" told him it was happening.Derbyshire's Chief Constable Mick Creedon said numerous officers in "many forces" told him it was happening.
Mr Creedon said officers were "doing everything they can" to ensure crime did not go up.Mr Creedon said officers were "doing everything they can" to ensure crime did not go up.
On Tuesday, MPs heard claims that forces were routinely manipulating crime statistics to meet targets.On Tuesday, MPs heard claims that forces were routinely manipulating crime statistics to meet targets.
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said it was the first time a chief constable had spoken out in this way and his comments would fuel a debate about the reliability of crime data.BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said it was the first time a chief constable had spoken out in this way and his comments would fuel a debate about the reliability of crime data.
Mr Creedon, who speaks for the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) on organised crime, said the "real position" was that domestic violence and sexual violence were going up.Mr Creedon, who speaks for the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) on organised crime, said the "real position" was that domestic violence and sexual violence were going up.
He said manipulation of the figures was the "unintended consequence" of pressure from police leaders, inspections and plans drawn up by police and crime commissioners to cut crime.He said manipulation of the figures was the "unintended consequence" of pressure from police leaders, inspections and plans drawn up by police and crime commissioners to cut crime.
He told the Acpo conference: "Inadvertently we are putting pressure on officers to do all they can to manipulate to create crime reductions."He told the Acpo conference: "Inadvertently we are putting pressure on officers to do all they can to manipulate to create crime reductions."
'Manipulation unacceptable''Manipulation unacceptable'
Peter Fahy, Greater Manchester Police's chief constable, said it was not about "fiddling" figures, it was about the way forces chose to categorise various types of offence.Peter Fahy, Greater Manchester Police's chief constable, said it was not about "fiddling" figures, it was about the way forces chose to categorise various types of offence.
"There's a huge field of interpretation," he said."There's a huge field of interpretation," he said.
Mr Fahy said it was time to move away from the police figures and focus more on the Crime Survey for England and Wales - which draws estimates of crime levels from speaking to 35,000 members of the public.Mr Fahy said it was time to move away from the police figures and focus more on the Crime Survey for England and Wales - which draws estimates of crime levels from speaking to 35,000 members of the public.
Damian Green, the policing minister, told the conference that crimes measured by the survey were falling and were less than half of the peak seen in 1995.Damian Green, the policing minister, told the conference that crimes measured by the survey were falling and were less than half of the peak seen in 1995.
He said it was "unacceptable" if police were found to be manipulating the data and said a "robust" inquiry into recording practices by the Inspectorate of Constabulary would report back next autumn.He said it was "unacceptable" if police were found to be manipulating the data and said a "robust" inquiry into recording practices by the Inspectorate of Constabulary would report back next autumn.
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said mis-recording crime "can never be right".Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said mis-recording crime "can never be right".
Chief Constable Jeff Farrar, ACPO's spokesman on crime recording said the Office for National Statistics believed England and Wales had the best police crime recording system in the world, but he acknowledged there were "sporadic" examples of officers inaccurately recording crime to meet targets. Chief Constable Jeff Farrar, Acpo's spokesman on crime recording, insisted that "nobody joins the police service with the intention of recording crime inaccurately".
"Performance targets can create a perverse incentive," he said. But he acknowledged that issues including a lack of awareness and knowledge, work pressures, system errors and "the possible pressure to achieve local performance targets" may all contribute to human error.
On Tuesday, Metropolitan Police constable James Patrick - who is currently awaiting disciplinary proceedings - told the House of Commons public administration committee his concerns about crime under-reporting had begun after he joined the force in 2009.On Tuesday, Metropolitan Police constable James Patrick - who is currently awaiting disciplinary proceedings - told the House of Commons public administration committee his concerns about crime under-reporting had begun after he joined the force in 2009.
He said he had found robberies being logged as "theft snatch" in order to get them off the books.He said he had found robberies being logged as "theft snatch" in order to get them off the books.
And a former West Midlands chief inspector described practices such as recording thefts as "lost property".And a former West Midlands chief inspector described practices such as recording thefts as "lost property".
Committee chairman, Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin, said he was "shocked" by the claims of such manipulation "on such a wide scale".Committee chairman, Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin, said he was "shocked" by the claims of such manipulation "on such a wide scale".