Recorded violent crime up by 9%
Violent crime recorded by the police rose nine per cent in the last quarter of 2004, according to official Home Office statistics out today.
However, the total number of recorded crimes fell five per cent on the previous quarter.
Today also saw the release of the British Crime Survey – which bases its statistics on interviews with members of the public, rather than crimes reported to police.
It suggested that there had been an 11 per cent fall in crime year on year and a 10 per cent fall in violent crime.
The figures come on the day that Labour launched its crime manifesto, promising a 15 per cent reduction in crime if elected and a new Violent Crime Bill to tackle gun and knife crime.
Speaking this morning, Prime Minister Tony Blair said that today’s recorded crime figures included a mass of data not previously covered. Mr Blair said: “For years, when Michael Howard was Home Secretary, police recorded crime did not count many scuffles and minor assaults which should have been classed as violent crime.
“The Association of Chief Police Officers wanted to change that and we agreed. It was the right thing to do. Every crime should be counted, even if it gives the wrong impression that violent crime has gone up.”
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said that the figures showed Labour had lost the battle against crime.
Mr Davis said: “The Government’s complacency on crime is breathtaking. Charles Clarke said that violent crime is falling yet recorded statistics – the ones that Labour used in opposition and in their own manifesto – show that violent crime has risen by another nine per cent in the last quarter. Under Labour there are a million violent crimes a year, gun crime has doubled and police clear up rates are at their lowest rates for at least 25 years.
“Yet after eight years and just weeks before an election their response is to re-announce yet another headline grabbing target which – if actually achieved – would only just get crime levels back down to what they inherited.”
The Liberal Democrats said that Labour’s promise to cut crime by 15 per cent was misleading, as it would be measured against the 2002/03 crime figures, which have already fallen by five per cent on today’s figures. As such, the Lib Dems said Labour’s target was “misleading” as it was in reality 10 per cent.
Home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten added: “Labour’s promises ring hollow in the light of the latest violent crime figures. The binge drinking culture is to blame, and in eight years Labour has done little about it.
“Having police on the streets deters crime and reduces the fear of crime. That is why Liberal Democrats will fund 10,000 more police than Labour.”
