24.01.13
Crime down 8% – ONS
New figures from the ONS suggest crime has dropped 8% in the past year.
The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) reported that there were 8.9 million crimes against adults in England and Wales in the year ending September 2012. This is 8% lower than the previous years’ survey, largely driven by decreases in vandalism, burglary and vehicle-related theft.
There were an estimated 0.8 million crimes against children aged 10-15.
For the same time period, police recorded 3.8 million crimes, a decrease of 7% on the previous year.
Crime prevention minister Jeremy Browne said: “Crime continues to fall under this Government...and is now at the lowest level since the survey began.
“Police reform is working. We have swept away central targets, reduced bureaucracy and these figures show forces are rising to the challenge of doing more with less. Many have achieved significant reductions in crime with reduced budgets.
“We are improving the relationship between the police and the public through the introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners, which are giving the public a direct say in local policing for the first time, and we have established the College of Policing to enhance police professionalism and set the highest standards of integrity.”
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