The latest crime statistics bulletin for England and Wales was published recently by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) – Crime in England and Wales, year ending December 2013. The bulletin reports on two independent measures of crime: police recorded crime and the Crime Survey for England & Wales, which is based on victims’ experiences rather than police figures. Both measures show that crime has fallen by more than 10 per cent under this Government.
This ONS bulletin shows that:
- since 2010, overall police recorded crime has fallen by 16 per cent (year ending June 2010 cf. year ending December 2013) excluding fraud;
- since 2010, overall crime according to the independent Crime Survey for England and Wales has fallen by 21 per cent (year ending June 2010 cf. year ending December 2013);
- over the last year, the overall level of crime estimated by the Crime Survey is down 15 per cent – to the lowest level since the survey began in 1981;
- over the last year, the survey showed that there has been a 22 per cent fall in violence, 15 per cent fall in vandalism and criminal damage, and a 25 per cent fall in other household theft.
- Crime in Cheshire down 25%
Other indicators also show that crime is falling – for example, National Health Service data shows the number of people admitted to hospital for assault is falling. So the evidence is clear: crime is falling and our police reforms are working.
Fiona Bruce said “England and Wales are safer today than they have been for decades – and these figures demonstrates that police forces continue to rise to the challenge of making savings while continuing to cut crime and deliver a better service to the public - but there is always more to do. We need to keep pace with the way crime is changing and we are improving our ability to tackle emerging issues such as cyber crime and electronic fraud. The National Crime Agency is ensuring we can tackle the growing threat of serious and organised criminality. The agency also incorporates the new National Cyber Crime Unit, which is relentlessly pursuing cyber criminals.”