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Home Office

Answer

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the reasons for the recently recorded increase in violent crime; and what steps he will take to reverse the trend. [194863] Ms Blears: With regard to violent crime, the British Crime Survey (BCS), which is considered to be a more reliable indicator of trends in violence than recorded crime, showed there were six per cent. fewer violent crimes in the 12 months to June 2004 compared with the previous year. Over the longer term, the BCS shows that violent crime has fallen by 26 per cent. between 1997 and 2003-04. It is true that the recorded crime figures recently published showed an increase of 11 per cent. in April-June compared to the equivalent quarter a year earlier. However, it is important to remember that recorded crime data are affected by changes in reporting and recording. With regard to reporting, the BCS estimates that the proportion of violent crimes reported to the police has increased each year since 1999, from 35 per cent. in 1999 to 42 per cent. in 2003-04. The introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in April 2002 led to an increase in the number of violent offences recorded by the police. An analysis of the impact of NCRS, both nationally and for individual forces, was published in two companion volumes to "Crime in England and Wales 2002-03". Both volumes are available on the Home Office website. The volume covering the national picture is available at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/rdsolr3103.pdf and the volume covering individual forces is available at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/rdsolr3203.pdf The reports said that the impact for offences of violence against the person was 23 per cent. in 2002-03 but also said that there was evidence that the effect was continuing and that there would be a further increase irrespective of any real changes in the level of violent crime. Data from individual police forces suggests that the data audits following the introduction of the NCRS has encouraged increased recording, particularly for minor violence. We are taking many steps to reduce violent crime. We have, for example, taken concerted action against street robbery, focusing on the highest priority areas. We have increased numbers of police officers to deal with all crime and there are a record level of police officers in England and Wales. There were nearly 140,000 as at August 2004--an increase of 12,570 since March 1997. There were also 4,094 police community support officers in August 2004. On 31 March 2004 there were 67,597 police (support) staff and 10,988 special constables. Low level thuggery is being tackled by measures to reduce alcohol-related crime and antisocial behaviour. Almost half of violent crime is alcohol-related. The Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy sets out how we intend to address the problems associated with alcohol, building on the good practice already developed by the police, local authorities and the drinks industry. This summer some 80 local areas have taken part in a campaign focusing on those who sell alcohol to under 18's, bars and clubs who promote irresponsible and rowdy behaviour, and drunken yobs who cause violence on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. We are following this up with a programme which will help local areas reduce violent crime and improve partnership working at the local level. In the first instance the programme will take place in six police force areas who are already delivering solutions to violent crime; it will begin in November and further areas will join the programme later. We are focusing in the first instance on those areas with the largest proportion of more serious violence. Domestic violence and sexual offences, including those against children, are also being tackled. The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill is currently going through Parliament and contains a number of measures which will improve protection offered to victims and sits at the heart of a wide-ranging programme of work. The Sex Offences Act 2003 was implemented on 1 May, including measures to: prevent grooming both on the internet and elsewhere; strengthen the monitoring of registered sex offenders; and modernise laws relating to sexual offending. Crime involving firearms is comparatively rare but is nonetheless a cause for concern and we are taking action against it. There are new powers including a five year minimum sentence for illegal possession of a firearm and further restrictions on possession and use of firearms; £1.5 million of confiscated criminals' money is to be put back into the community to tackle gun crime.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

194863; 426 c1611-2W;426 c1614-5W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Disclosure of information Crime prevention Crimes of violence Anti-social behaviour Firearms Drunkenness Sexual offences Victims

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk