Survey shows crime is falling and victims of sexual offences now have more confidence to report

National Policing Lead for Crime Statistics, Chief Constable Jeff Farrar said:

“The latest crime statistics again demonstrate the police service’s ongoing commitment to reducing overall crime and improving the way we record it. We said that we would be more consistent in our approach to crime recording; the continued narrowing of the gap between the crime survey, based on people’s own experiences, and police recorded crime shows that we are doing just that.

“The overall decrease shown in the Crime Survey of England and Wales of 16 per cent is the largest year on year reduction since the survey began in 1981. There are welcome falls in violence, criminal damage, burglary and anti-social behaviour.

“It’s reassuring to see increased reporting of sexual offences, as this shows that victims of abuse have greater confidence that if they report to the police they will be listened to, taken seriously and their report will be investigated fully, regardless of when the offence took place. The increase in reports of fraud can also be attributed to the recent changes in the way that we record crimes rather than an actual increase in incidents.

“Although police recorded violent crime is up (11 per cent), the crime survey shows a clear reduction in violent crime (23 per cent). I believe this shows that our commitment to recording crimes more consistently, with a particular focus on domestic abuse offences, is having a positive impact.

“This sends a message to the public that their communities are a safer place now than they were last year. We will continue to work hard to ensure that the reductions in crime continue.”

For more information contact: 

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk

The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with Government and partner agencies, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service in the United Kingdom. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, co-ordinates the strategic policing response.

ACPO’s 295 members consist of 213 chief police officers from the home forces of assistant chief constable rank (commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, plus 55 senior police staff members from the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Non home forces such as British Transport Police have 24 chief police officer members and there are three members from the Service Police.