Statistics
Crime in England and Wales: Quarterly Update to September 2004
Crime in England and Wales over the last 12 months has fallen by 11% according to the British Crime Survey (BCS), and 6% according to Police Recorded Crime. This quarterly update also shows that recorded domestic burglaries, vehicle thefts and the risk of being a victim have continued to fall.
Title: Crime in England and Wales: Quarterly Update to September 2004
Author: Jonathan Allen, Tricia Dodd and Heather Salisbury
Series: Home Office Statistical Bulletin 03/05
Date published: January 2005
Number of pages: 13
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General Findings
British Crime Survey findings
The risk of being a victim of crime, at 25%, is the lowest recorded by the BCS since it began in 1981.
During the 12 months ending September 2004 there was an 11% fall in the number of crimes against adults living in private households.
The BCS showed statistically significant falls in vehicle thefts, all household crime and all personal crime compared with interviews in the 12 months to September 2003.
Fear about the main crime types has fallen compared with the previous year, as has the level of perceived anti-social behaviour.
There were 9% fewer violent crimes compared with the previous year. Violent crimes involving an injury fell by 13%.
There were 10% fewer crimes of domestic burglary in the 12 months to September 2004 compared with a year earlier.
Levels of confidence in aspects of the criminal justice system (CJS) have continued to show improvement compared with the previous year.
Police Recorded Crime
The number of crimes recorded by the police fell by 6% in July to September 2004 compared to the same period in the previous year.
In the year to September 2004 there were a provisional 10,670 firearm offences, representing an increase of 5% compared with the previous 12 months.
The police recorded a 7% increase in crimes of violence against the person in July to September 2004 compared with the same period in the previous year, but these increases in recorded violence appear to reflect continuing effects of improved police recording of crime.
Serious violent offences including homicide, threats or conspiracy to murder and serious wounding rose by 3%.
Percentage change in recorded crime, July to September 2004 compared with the same quarter a year earlier, England and Wales
Recorded crime figures show a 23% fall in domestic burglary for July to September 2004 compared with the same quarter in 2003.
The number of vehicle thefts recorded by the police fell by 17%.
Recorded crime figures showed an 18% decline in robbery and a 22% increase in sexual offences in July to September 2004 compared with a year earlier. Again, though this reflects an expansion in the way sexual offences are recorded.
Last update: 25 January 2005