§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of trends in violent crime.
§ Mr. HowardBetween 1981 and 1993, violent crime recorded by the police increased at a rate of 6 per cent. per year, compared with an increase in all recorded crime of 5 per cent. per year. In the 12 months to June 1994, violent crime accounted for 6 per cent. of all crimes recorded by the police.
The British crime survey provides an insight into people's experience of crime, whether or not they report it to the police. The survey suggests that for those offences that can be compared with the police figures, violent crime increased at a rate of less than 3 per cent. per year between 1981 and 1993.