§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on changes in the level of reported crime in Chelmsford in each of the last five years. [130566]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe latest available data for notifiable offences recorded by the police in Chelmsford over the last five years are given in the table.
Number of crimes recorded Percentage change compared to the previous year Old rules1 1995–96 10,238 — 1996–97 9,991 -2 1997–98 9,110 -9 1998–99 9,460 4 New rules 1998–99 10,396 — 1999–2000 10,738 3 1 The rules for recording crimes changed in April 1998 which led to a large increase in the number recorded. Essex collected data based on the old rules and the new rules in 1998–99.