Written question asked by Alan Johnson (Labour) on Tuesday, 14 September 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 September 2010. It was answered by Lord Herbert of South Downs (Conservative) on Monday, 18 October 2010 on behalf of the Home Office.

Constitution and Home Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to her contribution of 7 June 2010, Official Report, column 179, on constitution and home affairs, what the evidential basis was for her statement that the incidence of violent crime had increased.

Answer: The statement my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary made to the House was based on a range of evidence on violent crime trends.Among these were the two main sources of official statistics on trends in crime are the British Crime Survey and Police recorded crime. However, both these sets of statistics are known to have different strengths and weaknesses and provide an incomplete picture.It is important that crime statistics are robust and trustworthy so that the public can have faith and confidence in them and this is why we are reviewing how crime statistics should be collected and published in the future.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 15786; 516 c517-8W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Constitution and Home Affairs
Monday, 7 June 2010
Proceeding contributions
House of Commons
Subjects: Crimes of violence
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk