April 25, 2008: Some Crime Is Falling: It's Official

According to Home Office figures just released, recorded crime in England and Wales dropped by 12% in the final three months of 2007, compared with the same period in 2006. However, drug offences grew by 20% and firearm offences also rose by 4% (though gun-crime deaths were fewer).

The British Crime Survey (BCS) interviews for the year ending in December 2007 were also published. They showed a decrease in the risk of being a victim of crime, compared with the year to December 2006 (23% as against 24%).

According to 'Crime in England and Wales: Quarterly Update to December 2007', the risk of being a victim has gone back to its lowest level since the survey began in 1981.

• The total of crimes recorded by police fell by 12% for the quarter ending in December 2007 (compared with the same quarter a year earlier).
• BCS interviews showed levels of violent crime to be stable
  compared with the year ending in December 2006. Recorded violence against the person for the quarter ending in December 2007 fell by 10% (compared with the same period a year earlier).
• BCS interviews to December 2007 indicated domestic burglary remained stable, vehicle-related thefts dropped by 10%,and vandalism fell by 8% compared with the previous year.
• Recorded crime showed a 5% drop in domestic burglary for the quarter ending in December 2007, as well as a 19% drop in offences against vehicles and a 17% drop in criminal damage.
• Recorded drug offences for October to December 2007 rose by 20% compared with the same period in 2006. Recent
  rises in drug offending may be mainly linked with increased police use of powers to issue cannabis warnings.
• In the year ending in December 2007, there were provisionally 9,967 firearm offences, an increase of 4% (373
  offences) compared with the year ending in December 2006.