Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether police recorded crime in the year ending June 2017 has risen over that recorded in the year ending June 2016.

Police recorded crime has increased by 13% in the year to June 2017 compared with the year to June 2016.

Police recorded crime is not currently considered a reliable measure of trends for most crime types, since it is affected by changes in recording practices and police activity as well as changing behaviour in public reporting of crime.

The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) is considered a better indicator of medium to longer term crime trends as it is unaffected by changes in recording practices and reporting levels.

According to the CSEW, there were 5.8 million incidents of ‘traditional’ crime (i.e. excluding fraud and computer misuse offences) in the year ending June 2017, a 9% statistically significantly fall from the previous year and a 70% fall compared with the peak in 1995.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is clear the rise in police recorded crime largely reflects continuing improvements to recording processes and practices, expanded offence coverage and an increased willingness of victims to come forward and report certain crimes like sexual offences and domestic abuse to the police.

However, ONS also believes some of the increases in low volume, but high harm, offences may be genuine and clearly there is more we must do to tackle the violent crimes which blight communities.

Every violent crime is a significant concern and this Government is taking decisive action to tackle it. This includes the launch of our consultation on 14 October on new legislation on offensive and dangerous weapons; an action plan to tackle the use of acid and other corrosives in violent attacks; and bringing forward a landmark Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill which will protect victims and make sure agencies respond effectively.