§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported offences involving violence there were in Wales in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001; and how many of those involved (i) village shops and (ii) village post offices. [154802]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeNumbers of recorded violent crimes in Wales by category are given in the table, the most recent published data being for the year ending September 2000. Recorded crime statistics do not generally include the location of offences, and so details of those involving village shops and village post offices are not available. It should be noted that, owing to the change in counting rules on 1 April 1998, figures for recorded crime before and after that date are not directly comparable. For example, from that date, figures for offences of violence against the person additionally include figures for common assault and assault on a constable, among other offences.
Recorded crime in Wales—number of recorded crimes in violent crime categories Year ending Violence against the person Sexual offences Robbery March 1998 17,589 1,815 786 March 1999 32,099 1,818 853 March 2000 37,922 1,749 909 September 2000 38,185 1,613 885