Written question asked by Nigel Evans (Conservative) on Wednesday, 7 March 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 15 March 2001. It was answered by Charles Clarke (Labour) on Thursday, 15 March 2001 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what reported offences involving violence there were in Lancashire in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001; and how many of those involved (i) village shops and (ii) village post offices. - Inc table.

Answer: Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reported offences involving violence there were in Lancashire in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001; and how many of those involved (i) village shops and (ii) village post offices. [153221] Mr. Charles Clarke: Numbers of recorded violent crimes in Lancashire by category are given in the table, the most recent published data being for the year ending September 2000. Recorded crime statistics do not generally include the location of offences, and so details of those involving village shops and village post offices are not available. It should be noted that, owing to the change in counting rules on 1 April 1998, figures for recorded crime before and after that date are not directly comparable. For example, from that date, figures for offences of violence against the person additionally include figures for common assault and assault on a constable, among other offences. Recorded crime in Lancashire--number of recorded crimes in violent crime categories _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year ending Violence against the person Sexual offences Robbery March 1998 3,865 966 887 March 1999 10,328 879 982 March 2000 9,803 754 1,058 September 2000 9,832 810 1,065 _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information