Ministers have welcomed new statistics indicating a fall in overall crime levels, although there has been a rise in violent crime.

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

The British Crime Survey (BCS) reported that crime is down 11 per cent over the year to September 2004.

Separate figures based on crimes recorded by police also suggested a fall of six per cent in the third quarter of last year.

Domestic burglary was down 23 per cent on the police figures, but stable according to the BCS.

Robbery and vehicle crimes also fell by around 15 per cent each.

Violent crime

Violent crime, which also includes offences defined as common assault but which may be little more than pushing and shoving, was broadly stable according to the BCS data.

However, there was a six per cent increase in violent crimes recorded by police officers.

Worryingly, there was also a 48 per cent increase in the use of imitation firearms, and an overall five per cent increase in firearms offences.

There was, though, a five per cent fall in the number of serious injuries caused by guns and a 15 per cent fall in the use of handguns.

The data suggested that the risk of being a victim of crime, at 25 per cent, the lowest in more than 20 years.

And a small minority of offenders were said to be responsible for the vast majority of offences, with 10 per cent of offenders responsible for 60 per cent of crimes.

Mixed reaction

Blears said the latest data showed that people are less likely to be a victim of crime today than they were 20 years ago.

"Compared to the peak of crime in the mid-90s, there are now, each year, 1.4 million fewer victims of car crime, half a million fewer victims of violent crime and 600,000 fewer households burgled," she said.

"Worry about crime is also going down - people are less worried about burglary, vehicle crime and violent crime than they were last year and fewer people think that anti-social behaviour is a problem in their area.

"This demonstrates that the government's strategy of focusing in on areas that need support and getting alongside communities to solve the problems that affect them, for example the anti-social behaviour campaign and the prolific and priority offender strategy, is working."

The minister also said the government would not be complacent, and recognised that there was "still a great deal to do to tackle the types of crime that are rising".

Out of control

The Conservatives said the latest figures showed violent crime had "spiralled out of control and is still rising".

"Tony Blair's promise to get a grip on this problem was all talk," said shadow home secretary David Davis.

"The government have failed to crackdown on guns and drugs which fuel violent crime and at the same time is planning to extend pub opening hours which is likely to encourage further alcohol fuelled violence."

Davis added that the Conservatives would "tackle the scourge of drugs and put 40,000 extra police officers on the street".

"At the next election voters will face a clear choice: Rising crime under Mr Blair who talks tough but acts soft, or a Conservative government who will get a grip on the problem of crime," he said.

For the Liberal Democrats, Mark Oaten said that "far too many people" are on the receiving end of violent crime.

"The rising tide of alcohol-related violence has happened under Labour, and they must take responsibility," he said.

"Unless local authorities and local police are prepared, pressing ahead with plans for 24-hour licensing is a recipe for disaster."

He also called for "more effective controls on guns coming into the UK, and much tighter restrictions on the sale of replica firearms".

Crime myths

Meanwhile, the director of the Crime and Society Foundation, Richard Garside, said the research had revealed that "offending is more widespread, common and everyday than the government and opposition claim".

"It challenges the reassuring myth that a small number of persistent offenders commit most crime," he said.

"‘It is simply not credible to claim that crime is committed by a small minority if 10 percent of 10 to 64-year-olds are active offenders.

"Given that the survey excludes a range of significant offences, including sexual offences and fraud, the true figure is undoubtedly higher.

"By pointing out that only one percent of offences it measures result in a court appearance, the survey also challenges the assumption that meaningful reductions in crime will be delivered by the police, courts and prisons.

"A 'round-up-the-usual-suspects' approach to crime control will simply not work."