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Crime falls, but stabbings not just an urban problem
by generaldecay | July 17, 2008 at 02:20 am | 310 views | 10 comments | 17 recommendations
I'm pretty fascinated (and concerned) by knife crime, and the manner in which it has gone from 'nought to 60 in 3.4 seconds'. According to this piece from the Times, it is not (as one may expect) just an urban issue.
Gordon Brown promised more beat officers to help tackle street violence today as new figures showed that the problem of knife crime is not just confined to cities.
A detailed picture of the true extent of violence involving blades - revealed for the first time - showed that rural police forces also have to deal with hundreds of cases.
The grim picture was revealed in annual crime figures that included a new set of data on knife attacks in every force in England and Wales. Serious violent crimes involving a blade have previously been bundled with other attacks, but since April last year officers have recorded them separately in light of growing public concern.
According to this piece from the BBC, crime overall is down, although knives remains prevalent in violent crime. (NB: this is based on figures for recorded crime, and not figures for actual crime.)
Police-recorded crime in England and Wales fell 9% in the 12 months to March, latest figures suggest.
The first-ever reliable figures for knife crime showed there were 22,000 offences last year.
They also show that while the risk of being a victim is at its lowest ever level, people still think that the rate is going up.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she was "extremely pleased" with the overall reduction.
The annual crime report for 2007-2008 reveals the longest recorded period of falling crime - down 48% from 1995.
...
She acknowledged that "knives are still being used in the most serious violent incidents" and the Youth Crime Action plan published this week was part of a wider package of measures aimed at tackling the problem.
The more reliable (in my opinion, contrary to what the next piece says) British Crime Survey elucidates on this issue.
Despite national alarm over knife crime, the overall number of crimes, including knife crime, is falling, official figures showed today.
The British Crime Survey, which is based on interviews with the public, revealed that nearly 130,000 violent offences involved a knife last year, down 43,000 on the previous year.
The figures also showed a record 10% drop in overall crime from the previous year.
Separate police-recorded crime in England, set out in the government's annual crime report, showed a fall of 9% in the 12 months to March 2008.
Police recorded 22,151 offences involving knives last year in England and Wales, including grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, woundings and robbery.
July 17, 2008 at 02:20 am by generaldecay, 310 views, 10 comments
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (10)
at 04:47 on July 17th, 2008
generaldecay, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 04:49 on July 17th, 2008
Thanks for the old GS, Barry!
at 05:55 on July 17th, 2008
You're welcome General, most do not realise that when confronted with either a Gun or a Knife, it is the one with the Knife who may actually use it, where as the gun is used more as a scare tactic.
at 06:22 on July 17th, 2008
I think that's a really good point, Barry. In terms of gravitas, people still think that wielding a knife is less serious than wielding a gun. I don't think that's so - the former is much more likely to be used.
at 07:42 on July 17th, 2008
generaldecay, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 07:48 on July 17th, 2008
Thank you very much Jarrett.
at 08:55 on July 17th, 2008
generaldecay, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Two things: it's easy to get a knife. Plus, crimes tend to go in "fads" among street and gang types. Right now, it's knives--easily obtainable, and very frightening to people. Many people will be more frightened by a knife than they will be a gun. Amazing, but true. Many people will think they can get a gun away from someone--but they don't think that about a knife.
Knives are very powerful on a visceral level.
at 09:18 on July 17th, 2008
Well said, Pep. There's something very gory about a knife that terrifies me.
Thank you for the GS.
at 09:33 on July 17th, 2008
The rise in knife crime in the UK is indeed shocking and concerning. I can't quite believe that the rate of crime is falling. It seems that every day there are at least one new death relating to knife crime - it's bordering on epicdemic in my opinion, but then being in another country means its hard to make a judgement call about that.
at 10:10 on July 17th, 2008
Well, you're right in one sense, Amy. Crime is not falling here. At least not in real terms (i.e. statistics that consider all crime and not just recorded crime). Plus, the way the Home Office counts criminal offences has changed in recent years, and this has resulted in a 'drop' in figures.
I would need to do more research to explain this properly and with figures, but that's the jist of it.