A major report published last week confirmed that rates of
violent crime in Britain have tumbled faster than anywhere else in Western
Europe over the past decade. The rate of homicide has fallen by half since
2003, while every region of the UK has become more peaceful despite the
country's economic turmoil. Sheffield was confirmed to be one of the most
peaceful urban areas in the UK.
Yet people tend to perceive that Britain is much more
violent than it is in reality. 17 per cent of people think they will fall
victim to violent crime at some point, whereas only four per cent will actually
do so.
Now, the statistics on murder and violent crime are fairly
reliable indicators of reality. However, as the severity of the crime lessens,
there is increasing disparity between the actual incidence of crimes and the
reporting and recording of those crimes. To take the most obvious example,
consider the actual number of instances of exceeding the speed limit and the
number of those which are reported and recorded.
That is why in looking at crime patterns, you need to look
at both the Reported Crime statistics and the British Crime Survey – the latter
being an annual detailed survey into the actual crime experiences of about
40,000 citizens over the previous 12 months.
So what are we to make of the latest statistics on reported
cases of anti-social behaviour, which suggest that South Yorkshire has the
second highest rate of any police force after Greater Manchester?
Actually, there is plenty of both research and anecdotal
evidence to confirm that reporting anti-social behaviour increases when people
have confidence that it will be addressed. So, an increase in recorded ASB
might simply be a reflection of increased confidence rather than an increase in
the incidence.of the crime itself.
I know that people are far more confident than a decade ago
about reporting anti-social behaviour and expecting that something will be done
about it. But, I also know that anti-social behaviour happens too frequently.
That’s why I’m very concerned that the Government is turning
the clock back with their plans to scrap the ASBO and replace it with a weaker
power which carries no criminal sanction for a breach. Similarly, the
proposed community trigger, which demands a response if a person has complained
three times just isn’t good enough.
People have the right to expect action right away and help
to tackle an issue which is a huge worry.
