Cameron's crime picture 'baffling'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Mr Cameron has highlighted high-profile gun and knife crimes as part of his attack on the Government over social breakdown.

But Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) president Ken Jones said he was "baffled" by the description of crime levels and called for political leaders to be more "calm, measured and objective" in public statements about crime.

He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "You talk about the London murder rate and it's a real problem, but if you look at similar cities in the US it's about five times lower.

"People are distorting the figures for their own ends and I think we need to try and rebuild trust.

"I think it isn't a deliberate attempt to go out and distort, what it is is a lack of trust in the data.

"We are facing the lowest risk of being a victim of crime for over a quarter of a century. Violent crime is at the lowest it has been since the mid-90s."

He said the "vast majority" of people live in "secure confident communities", but added: "There is a minority which don't and it is those that need our leadership, and they need people in leadership positions in politics, government and the media to actually show some leadership and be more calm and measured and objective over this."

Mr Cameron has accused Labour of "knee-jerk" law and order reforms and suggested possible curbs on violent video games.