§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress towards targets on reducing(a) vehicle crime, (b) domestic burglary and (c) robbery. [136703]
§ Ms BlearsOur targets are to reduce:
- vehicle crime by 30 per cent. between 1999 and 2004;
- domestic burglary by 25 per cent. between 1999 and 2005; and
- robbery in the ten Street Crime Initiative areas by 14 per cent. from 1999 to2000–05 and maintain those levels.
Progress on burglary and vehicle crime is measured using the British Crime Survey (BCS); but recorded crime is used for robbery.
(a) BCS 2000 showed that there were 2,942,000 vehicle crimes in 1999. Figures published on 16 October report that BCS interviews in the 12 months to June 2003 indicated that there were 2,319,000 vehicles thefts a reduction of 21 per cent. This is on track to meet the vehicle crime target.
(b) There were 1,261,000 domestic burglaries in 1999. Figures published on 16 October report that BCS interviews in the 12 months to June 2003 indicated that there were 936,000 domestic burglaries—a reduction of just over 25 per cent.
(c) Since the robbery target was set, there were sharp rises in recorded robbery in 2000–01 and 2001–02. In response to these, the Government launched the Street 236W Crime Initiative in March 2002. There was a 17 per cent. reduction in recorded robbery in the ten street crime areas in 2002–03, compared with 2001–02.