London Crime News
New Crime Figures for London
17 July 2008
Crime figures for 2007/08 confirm that London has the highest rate of overall offending and the worst record in the country for car crime and theft. The figures, released today show an overall national fall in crime of nine per cent in recorded offences.
People in London are more at risk of attack than anyone else in the country with 230 residents out of every 10,000 becoming a victim last year, compared with a national average of 179. Other figures in today's report, from the British Crime Survey, show a third of the London’s residents believe there is a high level of drug use or dealing, and 31 per cent say there are high levels of drunkenness and rowdy behaviour.
Separate statistics published today (17 July 2008) also give the first breakdown of reported serious violent crimes using knives and show that London's total of 7,428 is three times greater than the next highest total of 2,294 for Greater Manchester. It is also significantly above the West Midlands total of 2,303. The new figures also showed that 7,248 knife crimes were committed in the capital last year - equivalent to a third of all the nonfatal offences in England and Wales and a rate of 20 stabbings a day.
The new knife crime figures show that across England and Wales there were 22,151 serious violent crimes involving a knife or sharp instrument - one fifth of serious violent crime. They included 231 attempted murders, nearly 14,000 robberies and more than 8,000 woundings.
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Launch of London Probation 'Diamond Initiative'
14 July 2008
A multi agency approach to tackle the cycle of re-offending in London has been announced by the Justice Secretary and Home Secretary.
The Diamond Initiative is being led by police and probation through the London Criminal Justice Board (CJB). The London CJB co-ordinates the delivery of London's Criminal Justice Services.
The three boroughs testing the new approach are Lambeth, Newham and Lewisham which will allow London police and probation, in partnership with local authorities, to focus on a wide range of offenders, including those who have been punished in prison but are not subject to subsequent supervision. Each borough will receive new police and probation staff to carry out this necessary work.
The 'Diamond' initiative in London, inspired by 'Million Dollar Blocks' in the USA, is one of five Integrated Offender Management projects that will be developed across the country. In London, it will aim to break the cycle of re-offending by targeting resettlement resources in neighbourhoods which would benefit most from this approach. For more information contact the Ministry of Justice press office on 0207 210 8822.