Police 'Failing To Record' Serious Violent Crime

British police forces are failing to properly record serious violent crime, according to new statistics released by the Home Office.

The government report blamed inaccurate police record keeping for a 22% rise in the number of the most serious crimes - including murder, attempted murder and manslaughter - in England and Wales.

Today, the government revealed the rise in serious violent crime was partly due to a minority of police forces - 13 out of the 43 forces across England and Wales - wrongly recording grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent in categories of 'other violent crime'.

However, the Home Office quarterly statistics, which cover April to June of this year, show that overall crime is down by 6% and overall violent crime is down compared with last year.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "Last year we revised offence categories for recording the most serious violence and clarified our guidance to police forces.

"This change means that this quarter's figures are not comparable with last year's. However, for most types of violence where the guidance hasn't changed - like homicide, robbery and death by driving - the numbers are down since last year."

Ms Smith added: "However, for most types of violence where the guidance hasn't changed, like homicide, robbery and death by driving, the numbers are down since last year.

"The overall number of violent crimes is down too - by 7% - almost 18,000 fewer violent crimes."

Drug offences were also on the rise, according to the figures - up by 8% - and a sharp rise in muggings was also recorded.

The department admitted undercounting among some police forces has been going on for over a decade.

(JM)