Crime figures have fallen in the UK – but is enough being done to prevent knife crime? Vote now in the ICM Opinion Poll.

Amidst a recent spate of knife crime in the UK, government figures released this month have shown that crime levels have fallen over the past year across England and Wales.

New figures showing historic falls in crime measured by the British Crime Survey (BCS) over the past year across England and Wales – equivalent to a million fewer crimes – were welcomed last week by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

According to the annual publication “Crime in England and Wales 2007/08”, produced by the Home Office under the new arrangements for statistics overseen by the new UK Statistical Authority, the risk of being a victim of crime has fallen from 24 to 22%, the lowest level ever recorded since the BCS began in 1981.

Including results from the BCS and crimes recorded by the police, the survey shows that all BCS crime is down by 10% and police recorded crime by 9%, compared with 2006/07.

Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, said: “We are firmly committed to deliver further reductions in the crimes that most concern people, particularly violence involving knives and guns. Whilst the BCS shows violence falling by 40% since 1997, with a 12% fall in the last year alone, we also know that knives are still being used in the most serious violent incidents.”

So far this year, 21 teenagers have been killed in London – the majority of whom have been victims of stabbings.
Also launched was the Youth Crime Action Plan – aiming to transform youth justice and children’s services in a completely integrated way.

Smith continued: “The Youth Crime Action Plan is just one part of a comprehensive package of tough enforcement and intensive prevention measures we have put in place to tackle violent crime wherever it occurs.”

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