Trends in Recorded Crime

9.11 Levels of recorded crime are lower in the South West region than in England and Wales as a whole: in 2006/07 the region recorded the second lowest rate of crime per 1,000 head of population in the England and Wales (at 86 recorded offences compared to 100 for England and Wales). Some 438,000 crimes were recorded by the police forces in the South West in 2006/07, 6% fewer than 2002/03 and 1% more than 2005/06. For detailed data regarding recorded crime figures see the Home Office publication Crime in England and Wales 2006-07

Figure 9.1 Crime in England and Wales 2006/07 (and previous years), Home Office (Popup full image) 
Fig 9.1 Recorded Crime Rates per 1,000 Population 2002 03 to 2006 07, number.pdf (1)

9.12 South West recorded crimes rates are lower than or equal to the overall England and Wales rates for all offence groups. The South West has the joint lowest rate in the country for burglary, and also for offences against vehicles.

Table 9.1 Recorded Crime Rates per 1,000 Population in 2006/07
 

South West

England & Wales
Violence against the person

17

19
Sexual offences

1

1
Robbery

1

2
Burglary

9

12
Offences against vehicles

11

14
Other theft offences

20

22
Fraud and forgery

3

4
Criminal damage

20

22
Drug offences

3

4
Other offences

1

1
ALL RECORDED CRIME

86

100
Source: Crime in England & Wales 2006/07, Home Office

    9.13 Despite the lower than average rate, criminal damage was the most frequently recorded offence group in the South West region in 2006/07: it accounted for 23% of the total of all recorded crime in the South West.

    Figure 9.2 Recorded Crimes by Type 2006/07, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Fig 9.2 Recorded Crimes by Type 2006 07, percentages latest.pdf


    9.14 While overall levels of recorded crime in the South West have fallen by 6% since 2002/03 there has been notable fluctuation within the main crime types over this period, influenced by factors such as the economy and government policy.

    Figure 9.3 Changes in Recorded Crime Rates per 1,000 Population by Type 2003/04 to 2006/07 (Popup full image) 
    Fig 9.3 Changes in Recorded Crime Rates per 1,000 Population by Type 2003 04 to 2006 07.pdf

    9.15 The figure above shows changes since 2003/04. Since 2003/04, rates of robbery, burglary, offences against vehicles, other theft offences, and fraud and forgery, have all decreased. In particular, the rate per 1,000 population of recorded instances of offences against vehicles has declined from 15 in 2003/04 to 11 in 2006/07. By contrast, crime rates for violence against the person, sexual offences, criminal damage, drug offences, and 'other offences', have increased since 2003/04. However, some of these changes are very small. With regard to the increase in rate of recorded drug offences, it should be noted that in April 2004 formal warnings for cannabis possession were introduced leading to a 59% increase in the number of formal warnings issued between 2004/5 and 2005/6 (in England and Wales). This coincided with a 36% increase in the recording of possession of cannabis offences across England and Wales and this is probably reflected in the rate increase referred to here.