§ Mr. SweeneyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that all police forces in England and Wales have a common system of recording and classifying crime statistics.
§ Mr. JackThe police forces already have such a system, governed by detailed Home Office rules and instructions on classifying offences according to statute, counting offences and completing regular statistical returns. However, many of these rules have remained unchanged since 1980 and the large number of definitional and legislative changes that have occurred since then raises the risk of inconsistencies developing. My Department is currently looking at introducing revisions with the aim of eliminating such inconsistencies and thus improving the quality of the crime statistics. As part of this process, each force, as well as representatives of the Association of Chief Police Officers, have been consulted. I expect a set of proposals to be submitted for my consideration later this year.