Crime Reduction - Helping to Reduce Crime in Your Area

Home Office Statistical Bulletin 6/01, May 2001

The data collected for this bulletin reflects the co-operation that exists between countries both in the sharing of data but also in exploring the different definitions used within statistical collection systems.

In making any comparisons it is necessary to be aware that such data will be the outcome of different legal and administrative systems and may also be derived from different statistical data collection systems. Such differences are described in this bulletin and in the European Sourcebook of Crime and Criminal Justice Statistics (Council of Europe 1999). 

Absolute comparisons between the recorded crime levels in different countries may be misleading, therefore, only comparisons of trends are normally made in this bulletin.

Details of the information for the period 1995 -1999 on crime recorded by police in 32 countries is given below: 

• Total recorded crime fell by 1% in the EU Member States and by 10% in England and Wales.

• England and Wales had one of the lowest homicide rates in Western Europe for 1997-1999. 

• Violent crime rose by 11% on average in the EU but by 20% in England and Wales. 

• Domestic Burglaries fell on average by 14 % in the EU but by 31% in England and Wales. 

• Theft from motor vehicles rose on average by 7% in the EU but fell by 27% in England and Wales.

• Drug Trafficking offences rose on average by 31% in the EU but fell by 6% in England and Wales. 

• England and Wales (at 125 prisoners per 100,000 general population in 1999) had one of the highest per capita rates in Western Europe.

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