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Hold on, if the only category to increase is gun crime, what does knife crime come under? A reduction in knife crime. Am I reading this correctly.... a reduction? Do these statisticians just pluck any old number from the air and stick it on some kind of spreadsheet.

- Sue, Orpington, Kent

Crime has fallen? Oh yeah, and pigs will fly!

- Simon Mctintock, London, UK

Recorded crime may be falling (and I believe that recorded crime is falling) but I for one have been a victim of crime in London 5 times in the last 12 months and only reported one. Why bother wasting your own time when the police won't even attend an attempted burglary where the criminal has left fingerprints and his blood? It is this under-reporting of crime that is distorting the figures because of a total lack of confidence in the Met police.

- Steve, London

Presumably if the figures showed a rise no one posting here would doubt their veracity?

- Billy Blighty, Sydney Australia

Some categories of crime can be subject to displacement, but the hard core nucleus of criminals in the UK has been growing because of unrestricted immigration. So such categories as drug dealing and offences linked to prostitution for which there is no foolproof way of determining figures now appears to be completely out of control. So are categories such as credit card fraud and counterfeiting which usually only become accountable when arrests are made. Then look around our local markets and car boot sales and take into account goods in the 'pirateing' categories, and you will see why there has been a fall in recorded crime - there is as more money to be from than screwing houses. The words you are looking for are "displacement" and "Cuffing" which is a term used by the police for reported crimes which are not recorded officially but borne in mind should they ever be detected along with others.

- Robert El-Cid., Hull, East Yorks.,

I have direct evidence to prove that the police falsify statistics. Don't believe a word of it. They have now become a PR agency for the government. They have changed the policy on recording crime.

Any crimes that occur in the same incident are now recorded as one crime (this was different before Labour came into power, the crimes were recorded separately). This means, as in my case, only one victim is recorded and the others are ignored; hence suggesting that crime is decreasing.

This is yet another example of how the facts are being twisted or, as I call it, labourised by the government.

If you want to know how violent crime is doing then check the figures for A&E treatment in hospitals. Incidents with stab victims have increased by nearly 50%. Nuff said.

- Richard Francis, London

Does anybody seriously believe any stats from this government or its poodles?

- Albert, Kettering, England

Manipulation of the basis of statistical information can paint any picture you want. The most telling statistic on crime this year is the 1 flack jacket that Harriet Harman wore to go out in her own Constituency. A picture that will haunt her 'til the day she resigns.

- Tangomike, Kensington, London

These figures will predictably be dismissed by opposition MPs until they get in power - then, as if by magic, the statistics will suddenly become reliable.

Crime has been falling steadily for ten years - but studies consistently show the fear of crime has been rising. This is due to falling newspaper sales and their need to strike the fear of God into readers to stimulate them. Also, most newspapers are Tory supporters. There are also more 24 hour TV news channels around ready to shock you out of you peaceful mood to report the latest stabbing which happened in a town miles away from you but effects your consciousness.

Fear of crime remains high due the way reports of rare murders are presented as representative of the crime situation of a whole. An apparent increase in antisocial (but not criminal) behaviour by youths also effects people's sense of security and adds to the fear of crime.

- Mike, London

Well, with the mayoral elections due, local elections in England and Wales in May, and a general election due in 24 months at the latest. Of course the published crime stats will be slanted to make the government 'look good'. Crime stats are meaningless, and statistics can be manipulated to show whatever you want them to show [words mean whatever I want them to mean!]. The real feelings around crimes and disorder is better reflected in the British crime survey. Politicians will always try and show themselves in a good light, even if it means telling blatant lies, and the current bunch of nincompoops are no different.

- B Clark, Chelmsford Essex UK

So why does that silly nu-labour woman wear a stab proof vest if crime is falling?

- Sean, London

Obviously the lad to take from this article and other comments posted here is that we can dismiss statistics that don't endorse our point and explicitly or implicitly criticise Ken Livingstone for the manipulation of these stats. Or, if they do endorse our point we can accept them and potentially take the opportunity to criticise Ken for the awful picture the stats paint. Either way the scaremongering wins. This is akin to the witch trials - confess your guilt and you've had it. Don't confess your guilt and you've had it for not confessing

- Brian Capaloff, Falkirk, Scotland (Formerly London)

Crime appears to be going down because the 'figures' are totally inaccurate and misleading. They don't include all the reported crimes that are 'screened out' i.e. those that happen but ones the police don't have a hope in hell of solving - and if you think this doesn't happen ask at your local police station. A colleague of mine was robbed at a supermarket cashpoint - according to the local plod this wasn't really a robbery as no force was used - shoving someone out the way to steal their money doesn't count, apparently it was just a 'distraction'. It was also too difficult to watch the CCTV and identify the culprits, and not serious enough to investigate - lack of resources. Another had his house burgled at night and car stolen but there were 'no forensics guv' so both crimes were screened out - these figures are a joke.

- In The Know........., Wembley

These statistics are pure fiction!

Sorry, what I meant to say was that they are statistics which have been skilfully manipulated to show a desired result!

- Fraser, Telford Park

No Ray, fear of crime has increased with media coverage but crime really is falling, sadly it is you that needs your head examining for believing newspapers over your own eyes and gut feeling, I walk the streets of some of the most "dangerous" parts of London daily and all I get is smiles and humility.

- Daveb, London

Nu Labor should get out of government. The police services have really become a joke. Nobody respects or believes police! They do not come out!

- Peteo, London, NW1,

Probably reported crime has gone down but not actual crime. The public have given up reporting certain crimes because there are no Police available to deal with them. Anyone who really believes the streets are safer now, or that crime has actually reduced needs their head examining

- Ray Srilations, Bexley, England

Well done Ken!

- Dr Susan Porter, London

There is only one word to describe these figures.
It starts with "B" and ends in "ollocks"

- Dave, London

Yeah right.. where do they get these figures from.

My neck of woods has seen a dramatic increase in burglaries and robberies. Car theft has increased. I had my car broken into twice, and when I reported it, the police were rude and indifferent. Filling in a report was too much trouble for them, however, I will say my neighbourhood policeman is much more understanding.

What's going on! A local bobby doing a better

- Alec, West London

Does anyone bother to report crime any more?

- Oli, London

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