Crime figures show child cruelty cases have increased

Annual crime statistics now out show that theft, burglary and child cruelty cases have risen significantly on last years numbers.

Theft from the person was up by a staggering 25 per cent.

Eco-friendly cycling commuters should make sure they lock their bicycles up safely with bike theft up by 22 per cent.

Most shockingly, figures show that child cruelty cases shot up by more than 900 cases with 6,218 more cases reported last year.

Despite several recent attempts across Bristol and North Somerset, child abduction was down on the previous year though child abandonment and child rape cases had increased.

The annual publication ‘Crime in England and Wales 2008/09’ includes results from the British Crime Survey and crimes recorded by the police for the 12 months up to March 2009. The results of the British Crime Survey come from questioning adults in their own home and asked about their experience of crimes including property crimes, car crimes, burglary and assaults. This survey records crimes that are not reported to the police by the victims.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: “Today’s figures show that the reductions in crime are being maintained and the risk of being a victim is still historically low.

“Encouragingly, violent crime continues to fall with homicide figures now lower than they have been for a decade and attempted murder also falling. Overall, violent crime with injury is down seven per cent and there has been a five per cent fall in recorded robberies, now at its lowest level since 2002.

“But we are not complacent.  As in previous years we see changing patterns of crime and we know that during economic downturns certain crimes face upward pressure, which is why we’ve already taken action to tackle these head-on.  Although today’s figures show signs of some acquisitive crimes increasing, the Government is determined to keep these crimes down by continued investment in preventative measures, tough, targeted policing and historically high numbers of police officers.

“Of course statistics are only part of the picture and offer no comfort to victims which is why it is encouraging that confidence at a local level is rising with nearly half of people saying they feel the police and local agencies are dealing with antisocial behaviour and crime in their area.”