Figures show crime is hitting the poor hardest

New figures show that crime is now at its worst in Britain's poorest communities. All of the top twenty deprived areas in Britain are in the top 10% for crime, and within individual local authority areas the poorer parts are experiencing much worse crime than the prosperous parts.

The Conservatives have also uncovered data showing that the unemployed are twice as likely to experience violent crime and burglary as those in work.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling said that this research “completely undermines Labour’s claim to be the party of progressive politics”. Commenting on the increasing levels of violent crime and burglary, he added:

“The people who are at the sharp end of this are the people who face the biggest challenges in their lives in some of our most deprived communities. Billions of pounds, endless initiatives and a decade of rhetoric later, and the reality is that the Government has let those people down comprehensively."

Taser use to tackle violence up

New figures released today by the Home Office reveal the use and discharge of Tasers against violent criminals has increased as more specially trained units take to the streets

Statistics for the first quarter of 2009 are the first published since all police forces were authorised to give Tasers to non-firearms officers specially-trained to use the devices.

This followed a successful 12-month trial in ten forces across the country last year.

The new figures reveal the devices were used 250 times by specially trained units in the last quarter, up from 187 in the previous quarter. The units discharged them 62 times in the three months to April, compared to 35 in the last three months of 2008.

Specially trained units have now used Tasers 1,098 times since the trial began in September 2007. They were discharged 190 times.

Policing, Crime and Security Minister David Hanson MP said:

"I am determined to give police all the tools they need to crack down on violent crime. Tasers are a vital tool for our frontline officers and that is why we allowed forces to issue them to specially-trained units.

“They are making a real difference on our streets and helping to keep both the public and our police officers safe.

“Tasers have helped defuse dangerous situations where people could have been seriously injured or even killed. And often just the threat of the device is enough. On many occasions, drawing or aiming a Taser has proved enough of a deterrent.”

Home Secretary statement on annual crime statistics

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said:

“The latest crime statistics are encouraging. Since 1997 overall crime has fallen by 36 per cent - a total of six million fewer crimes, violence is down by 41 per cent and domestic burglary is down by 54 per cent.

“Today’s figures show that the reductions in crime are being maintained and the risk of being a victim is still historically low.

“Encouragingly, violent crime continues to fall with homicide figures now lower than they have been for a decade and attempted murder also falling. Overall, violent crime with injury is down seven per cent and there has been a five per cent fall in recorded robberies, now at its lowest level since 2002.

“But we are not complacent. As in previous years we see changing patterns of crime and we know that during economic downturns certain crimes face upward pressure, which is why we’ve already taken action to tackle these head-on. Although today’s figures show signs of some acquisitive crimes increasing, the Government is determined to keep these crimes down by continued investment in preventative measures, tough, targeted policing and historically high numbers of police officers.

“Of course statistics are only part of the picture and offer no comfort to victims which is why it is encouraging that confidence at a local level is rising with nearly half of people saying they feel the police and local agencies are dealing with antisocial behaviour and crime in their area.”