The annual publication 'Crime in England and Wales 2007/08' includes results from the British Crime Survey and crimes recorded by the police for the 12 months up to March 2008.
The figures for the East of England show that:
- Between 2006/07 and 2007/08 total recorded crime fell by eight per cent and decreased in all of the police force areas in the East of England region.
- Recorded crime fell by 12 per cent in Hertfordshire, 11 per cent in Norfolk, 10 per cent in Bedfordshire, six per cent in both Cambridgeshire and Essex, and five per cent in Suffolk.
- In 2007/08 the total recorded crime rate in the East of England region (at 75 offences per 1,000 population) was the lowest rate in all the English regions, and lower than the overall England and Wales rate (at 91 offences per 1,000 population).
- Within the region between 2006/07 and 2007/08, Hertfordshire recorded the largest percentage decreases in violence against the person (21%) and criminal damage (16%), Cambridgeshire recorded the largest percentage decrease in burglary (15%), whilst Essex recorded the largest percentage decrease in offences against vehicles (17%).
Welcoming the figures, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith praised the work of local front line agencies involved in the fight against crime:
"The fall in crime in the East of England shows the difference that can be made when we work together to tackle crime and is a testament to the effort and commitment shown by police and crime reduction partners across the region.
"I now want to go further and build on this success to ensure that people feel safer and are confident we are tackling the crimes which concern them most.
"I am determined to deliver more reductions in all types of crime and particularly violence involving knives and guns. Whilst the BCS shows violence falling by 40 per cent since 1997, with a 12 per cent fall in the last year alone, we also know that knives are still being used in the most serious violent incidents.
"The Youth Crime Action Plan published this week 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."
Nationally both the BCS and police recorded crime show crime has fallen along with the risk of being a victim of crime. The BCS shows crime has fallen by ten per cent (with a 12 per cent fall in violent crime) and police recorded crime shows a nine per cent fall compared to 2006/07.
The BCS shows the risk of becoming a victim of crime has fallen from 24 to 22 per cent. Both overall crime and the risk of victimisation are now at their lowest levels since the first BCS results in 1981.
