Figures show rise in violent crime

Binge drinking has been blamed for an increase in the number of violent crimes recorded by police officers.

Figures published by the Home Office showed that there has been an 11 per cent rise in police recorded violent crime.

But ministers sought to play down the rise, pointing to the separate British Crime Survey (BCS) data which showed a fall of five per cent in violent crimes.

The National Crime Recording Standard for the police data was said to have "led to increases in some of the figures as police are now recording crimes that, although taking place, were not previously recorded".

A statement added that the higher police figures were caused by "an increase in the reporting and recording of 'low level' thuggery".

Alcohol is said to account for around half of all violent crime, prompting a new government drive to tackle the problem.

This summer the Police Standards Unit and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) will spearhead "a robust enforcement campaign in towns and cities across the country".  The aim is to cut alcohol-fuelled violence and target "the irresponsible few who encourage underage and binge drinking".

Other figures shoed that overall crime levels remained broadly stable, with the BCS showing a one per cent fall.

Domestic burglary rose one per cent according to the BCS, though police recorded rates for the same crime fell 11 per cent.

The street crime initiative was said to be behind a seven per cent fall in recorded robberies, and thefts of and from vehicles fell 10 per cent according to police data.

Encouraging figures'

Home Office minister Hazel Blears said the latest set of data was "encouraging".

"Crime overall is stable and I am pleased that volume crimes such as burglary, robbery and vehicle crime, are continuing to fall significantly," she said.

"But it is clear from these figures that crime trends are changing. Property crimes, that constitute the vast majority of overall crime, continue to fall.

"There are increases in violent crime and, as our research on violent crime makes clear, this needs to be put into context.

"Improvements in the way police record crimes mean that forces now have a clearer picture of crime in their area and that low level thuggery, anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related crime which are included in the violent crime figures, are recorded more accurately.

"Much of this crime is alcohol related, happens at night or at weekends, with young men the most likely victims - this is why our Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England is so important. "

She also warned that "out of control drinking can turn a night out into a nightmare".

To combat the rise in crime, the minister pledged "to put an end to no-go city centres".

"The government still has work to do, but the BCS figures show that people are realising that crime is actually going down - people are less worried about burglary, vehicle crime and violent crime than they were last year and less people think that anti-social behaviour is a problem in their area," she added.

"We are not complacent and there is still a great deal to do but this does highlight that our work on the ground is having an impact."

Police forces also welcomed the new focus on the sale and consumption of alcohol.

"This is more than a policing issue and a close scrutiny of the alcohol sale-and-consumption issue is long overdue," said ACPO's Chris Allison.

"Police officers up and down the country are all too familiar with people who drink themselves to a point where they lose not only their inhibitions, but also their self-control."

He added: "We need to continue our efforts with partners to tackle those who through their own choice decide to flout the law."