Violent crime – as it is recorded by the police – includes robbery, sexual offences and ‘Violence against the person’ offences, such as assault and murder. However, most recorded violent crime is low-level thuggery, while the UK has one of the lowest murder rates amongst the European Union, with London being below average for EU capital cities. Government Offices have an active role in the effort to continue bringing down the level of violent crime, which has fallen by 35 per cent since its peak in 1995.
More information on the national picture
The British Crime Survey is considered the more reliable measure of violent crime. Police recorded crime has been inflated over the last few years by changes in recording practices (particularly marked since the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002), increased reporting by the public and increased police activity.
During the period 2005-08 assaults, robbery and more serious woundings will be targeted by the 23 CDRPs in the region. Each partnership has set specific reduction targets for these offences and others such as burglary and car crime. For more detailed information contact your local community safety partnership.
In July 2007 the Home Office published a new National Crime Strategy for 2008-11 and new targets for for improving community safety, including Public Service Agreement 23 which it seeks to reduce the most serious violent crimes, including serious sexual offences and domestic violence, as a priority.
In February 2008 the Home Office published Saving Lives. Reducing Harm. Protecting the Public: An action plan for tackling violence 2008-11 and The National Audit Office published Home Office: Reducing the Risk of Violent Crime and two more reports related to tackling violent crime.
In the same month we hosted a Tackling Violent Crime Seminar to help partnerships with reducing violent crime. The seminar looked at what worked in relation to tackling violent crime. It attracted over 85 delegates from various agencies and organisations across the region including police, health, local authorities, domestic violence co-ordinators, rape crisis centres, Victim Support and other voluntary organisations. The presentations focused on domestic violence, sexual abuse, young people and violence and the Tackling Violent Crime Programme.
