Rising violence has helped to push crime to its highest level in a decade, with almost five million offences in the past year, it was revealed yesterday.
Violent crime increased by 18 per cent. Knife crime, gun offences and robbery helped to drive up overall crime by 10 per cent in England and Wales, the Office for National Statistics said. The 723 homicides included the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster but even when those cases were excluded the murder rate rose by 9 per cent.
It was the largest annual increase in overall police recorded crime in a decade and separate figures showed that officer numbers had fallen to their lowest level for more than 30 years. Many of the increases were in “high-harm” but “low-volume” offences such as knife and gun attacks but there were also rises in burglary and vehicle theft.
In spite of the rise in crime recorded by police, the Crime Survey of England and Wales, based on interviews with 35,000 households, showed a 7 per cent fall. When fraud and computer misuse figures are included, the survey estimate almost doubles, however.
John Flatley, of the ONS, said: “The latest figures show the largest annual rise in crimes recorded by the police in a decade. While ongoing improvements to recording practices are driving this volume rise, we believe actual increases in crime are also a factor in a number of categories.”
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The figures will pile pressure on Amber Rudd, the home secretary, who last week rushed out a plan to deal with a spate of acid attacks and on Tuesday promised a consultation on online knife sales. Attacks using mopeds, particularly in London, have also risen. Theresa May was home secretary for six years before becoming prime minister.
Nick Hurd, the policing minister, said that the government must do more to tackle violent crime: “We recognise that crime is changing and we are determined to get ahead of emerging threats to the safety and security of our families and communities.”