Crime in England and Wales
Quarterly update to December 2007
This update presents the most recent crime statistics from two different sources: the British Crime Survey (BCS) and police recorded crime. Both data sets represent the most up-to-date information, but they cover different time periods. The BCS results are from interviews conducted in the period October 2006 to September 2007; police recorded crime refers to the July to September 2007 quarter.
Title: Crime in England and Wales: Quarterly update to December 2007
Author: Home Office
Series: Home Office Statistical Bulletin 04/08
Number of pages: 11
Date published: April 2008
Availability: Download full report 
PDF 150Kb
Main points
British Crime Survey (BCS) interviews in the year to December 2007 showed a decrease in the risk of being a victim of crime compared with the year to December 2006 (23% as against 24%). The risk of being a victim has returned to its lowest ever level since the survey began in 1981.
The number of crimes recorded by the police fell by 12% for the period October to December 2007 compared with the same quarter a year earlier.
BCS interviews showed levels of violent crime to be stable compared with the year to December 2006. Recorded violence against the person for October to December 2007 fell by 10% compared with the same period in 2006.
BCS interviews to December 2007 indicated domestic burglary remained stable, vehicle-related thefts fell by 10% and vandalism fell by 8% compared with the year to December 2006. Recorded crime showed a 5% fall in domestic burglary for October to December 2007, a 19% fall in offences against vehicles and a 17% fall in criminal damage.
Recorded drug offences for October to December 2007 increased by 20% compared with the same period in 2006. Recent increases in drug offences are largely associated with increased police use of powers to issue cannabis warnings.
In the 12 months to December 2007 there were provisionally 9,967 firearm offences, an increase of 4%, or 373 offences, compared with the 12 months ending December 2006.
There was a decrease in the proportion of people with high levels of worry about all main crime types in the year ending December 2007, compared with the previous year, but BCS interviews showed no change in the overall levels of perceived anti-social behaviour.
Three of the BCS measures of confidence in the criminal justice system increased in the 12 months to December 2007, compared with the previous year, while one decreased.
Getting a copy
Download Crime in England and Wales: Quarterly update to December 2007 PDF 150Kb
Last update: Monday, April 28, 2008