U.K. crime drops to lowest level of 9% since records began in 1981

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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According to the figures published by Office of National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday, crime in England and Wales drops to nine percent in the year ending March 2013 from the previous year, with figures at their lowest level since the Crime Survey for England and Wales began in 1981, despite four years of cuts in police numbers.

U.K. Prime Minister, David Cameron says smart policing has helped cut crime rates to a new low, despite reductions in force budgets and police numbers.

The release of the data is done as the body representing rank and file officers warned forces would be unable to cope with a repeat of the 2011 riots due to Government austerity measures.

The fall in recorded crime covers all the main categories of “victim-based” offences – as opposed to general crimes against society – except for theft from the person, which was up nine percent, and sexual offences, which were up one percent.

Criminal damage and arson were down 15 percent and robbery by 13 percent.

Homicides stood at 552 for the year, just one less than the previous year.

According to the Home Office, the figures showed that the number of police officers in England and Wales had fallen for a fourth straight year, with government austerity after the financial crisis compelling forces to make deep cuts.

Police numbers were down 3.4 percent, or 4,516, over the year, taking the total to its lowest level since 2002.

The biggest drop was in London’s Metropolitan Police, which shed 1,742 officers.

Mr. Cameron has spoken during a visit to Hammersmith police station in west London and said: “I think we should congratulate the police. As a Government we have asked them to do more with less resources. They have performed, I think, magnificently and I think all the work that has gone into crime prevention has helped as well.”

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