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Figures show jump in violent crime by strangers
02.11.09
The proportion of violent crime committed by strangers has risen significantly since Labour came to power, a report showed today.
British Crime Survey statistics seized on by the Tories suggest that half of all violence was perpetrated by strangers last year - compared with a third in 1996.
Violent offences were also more likely to have been committed in the street last year than at any other time in the past decade, the figures indicate.
Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said: "The more we learn about the reality that lies behind the headline crime figures, the clearer it becomes that we have a growing problem of violence and disorder on our streets.
"Ministers seem to be in a state of denial about it.
"Britain's binge drinking culture and the changes to our licensing rules are a big reason for the problem."
Mr Grayling called for new powers for communities to restrict the number of licensed premises and curb late-night opening, and for an end to loss leaders on supermarket alcohol sales.
The latest British Crime Survey, released last week, found that there were just over a million violent crimes committed by strangers in 2008/9.
They counted for 50% of all violence last year, up from 32% in 1996.
The proportion of violent crimes committed in the street has risen from 20% in 1996 to 34% in 2008/9.
Reader views (10)
Why are you arguing about statistics? Who here can trufully say they feel safe on the streets of London these days? I'm a 6'2" ex-commando and I've been in many situations where I've feared for my own and the safety of my family over the last few years. Any policeman or security guard will confirm this for you as they witness this sort of thing on a frighteningly regular basis.
- Mark, London
Labour = tough for the victims of crime.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Agree with you all the way Dan
Only thing I have to say is now such crime happens in broad daylight.
As for Mike....statistics?? Yeah right.
- Russell, London
You would make a good politician Mike. A colleague of mine was the victim of a motiveless knife attack at the hands of two scum bag youths last week. He is at home recovering from knife innjuries to his face and a broken arm. My brother was stabbed as a youth, I have had knives pulled on me in numerous street robberies as a youngster growing up in Hackney. Until you have been a victim of such an attack it is probably better not to pass any judgement at all. Didn't know you had access to police statistics Mike, perhaps you need to open your eyes as to the type of characters that trudge the streets after dark. Try walking any London backstreet after 10pm and then tell us that you feel safe.
- Dan Hayes, East London
Stop trying to alarm your more statistically naive readers with scaremongering headlines. There hasn't been any significant rise in the number of violent crimes committed by strangers; there has been a large drop in such crimes committed by acquaintances, and a smaller drop in domestic violence, so that the same number of crimes by strangers constitutes a larger proportion of the total. A more reasonable headline would be "Figures show fall in violent crime by friends & relatives".
- Mike Scott, UK
Life under Labour....Good in it.....
- Themanoftruth, United Kingdom
This non-story is entirely consistent with the results of a policy of reducing domestic violence, which considering most murders are by someone the victim knows, is only sensible*. Nice to know the Tories think that's implictly a bad idea. Grayling is out of his depth here - if he's using the BCS figures he presumably trusts them, which means he can't use the 'crime is underestimated therefore the figures are useless' line.
* notice it's not the *volume* of crime they're talking about, which suggests, as with Boris last year, that they're trying to pull the fear-of-crime wool over our eyes while being perfectly aware it's fallen overall. Are there no real problems around?
- Tom, London, UK
Tough on crime. Tough on the causes of crime. Another soundbite.
- Alan, Glasgow
Nu-Labour - Criminalises the trivial and trivialises the criminal.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants
How can I possibly believe those figures? We have had a Labour government being tough on crime and its causes for quite a few years. Must be a statistical blip.
- Naomi Sajeri, Manchester
