Crime in England & Wales: 12 months to December 2008
This update presents the most recent crime statistics from two different sources: the British Crime Survey (BCS) and police recorded crime. Updates are published quarterly. This report covers the the 12 months to December 2008.
Title: Crime in England & Wales - 12 months to December 2008
Author: Home Office
Series: Home Office Statistical Bulletin 06/09
Number of pages:
Date published: April 2009
Availability: Download full report 
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Main points
Based on the British Crime Survey (BCS) interviews in the year to December 2008, the overall level of crime is stable compared with the year ending December 2007. The apparent increases in household and personal crime were not statistically significant. The number of crimes recorded by the police fell by 4% for the period October to December 2008 compared to 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 of crime remains at a historically low level.
Comapred with the BCS year ending December 2007, most estimates of BCS crime categories (including violence, domestic burglary, vandalism and vehicle-related thefts) remained stable. The one exception was theft from the person which rose by 25%. This rise is not reflected in other categories of BCS personal acquisitive crime of in the comparable category of police recorded crime.
Police recorded violence against the person for October to December 2008 fell by 6% compared with the same period in 2007. Police recorded robberies fell by 2% overall, but robberies involving knives or sharp instruments increased by 5% over the same period.
For the period October to December 2008, both police recorded domestic burglaries and other burglaries rose by 4%, whilst there were falls in recorded offences against vehicles (7%) and criminal damage (9%).
There was a 16% fall in firearm offences recorded by the police in October to December 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.
BCS interviews in the year to December 2008 showed that 47% of people agreed that the police and local agencies were dealing the the anti-social behaviour and crime issues that mattered in their area. There was no change in the proportion of people who perceived a high level of anti-social behaviour in their local area compared with the previous year (17%).
Percentage change in BCS crime based on interviews in the 12 months to December 2008 compared with the previous 12 months
Percentage change in numbers of recorded crime, October to December 2008, compared with the same quarter a year earlier
Last update: Thursday, April 23, 2009