Crime in England and Wales Quarterly Update to September 2008
This report is the latest update for the Crime in England and Wales series covering July to September 2008. The series uses information from both police recorded crime and the British Crime Survey (BCS) to create an accurate account of crime levels.
Title: Crime in England and Wales Quarterly Update to September 2008
Authors: Home Office
Series: Home Office Statistical Bulletin 01/09
Number of pages: 14
Date published: January 2009
Availability: Download full report 
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Key Points
- Based on British Crime Survey (BCS) interviews in the year to September 2008, the overall level of crime is stable compared with September 2007. The apparent decreases in household and personal crime were not statistically significant. The number of crimes recorded by the police fell by three per cent for the period July to September 2008 compared with the same quarter a year earlier.
- BCS interviews also showed the risk of being a victim of crime (23%) is stable compared with the previous year. The risk of being a victim remains at a historically low level.
- Based on BCS interviews in the year to September 2008, the level of violent crime is stable compared with the year to September 2007. Recorded violence against the person for July to September 2008 fell by 6& compared with the same period in 2007.
- Police recorded robberies fell by 3% overall, but robberies involving knives or sharp instruments increased by 18% over the same period.
- BCS interviews to September 2008 indicated domestic burglary and vandalism remained stable and vehicle-related thefts fell by 10% compared with the year to September 2007.
- For the period July to September 2008, police recorded domestic burglaries rose by 4% whilst there were falls in recorded offences against vehicles (6%) and criminal damage (8%).
- Police recorded drug offences for July to September 2008 increased by 9% compared with the same period in 2007.
- There was a 29% fall in firearm offences in July to September 2008, compared to the same period in 2007.
- BCS interviews showed that 46% of people agreed that the police and local agencies were dealing with the anti-social behaviour and crime issues that matter in their area. There was no change in the overall level of perceived anti-social behaviour (17%).
Last update: Friday, January 23, 2009