§ Mr. McLoughlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many offences were recorded by the Derbyshire police force in each year since 1997, broken down by category; [98897]
(2) how many crimes there were, by major category, in Derbyshire, in each year since 1997. [98902]
§ Mr. DenhamThe number of offences recorded by Derbyshire Constabulary, broken down by main offence group for the years requested, are given in the table.
There was a change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, which would have the tendency to increase the number of offences counted. Numbers of offences before and after this date are therefore not directly comparable.
819W
§ Mr. Patrick McLoughlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) incidents of domestic violence were reported and (b) deaths resulting from domestic violence there were in (i) West Derbyshire and (ii) Derbyshire in each year since 1997. [98896]
§ Mr. DenhamRecorded crime figures are generally collected by legal definitions. Recorded crimes involving domestic violence will be recorded in a range of offences, along with offences which have been committed in other circumstances. Numbers of offences involving domestic violence are therefore not available from recorded crime data.
The British Crime Survey (BCS) produced data by region for 2001/02, on the number of crimes of domestic violence recorded by the survey. However it does not provide information on domestic violence at a local level nor for individual police force areas.
The BCS estimates that there were 188 crimes of domestic violence per 10,000 adults in the East Midlands region for interviews conducted in the 2001–02 financial year. This compares with 149 incidents per 10,000 adults in England and Wales as a whole.
The BCS can also provide trend information on the number of incidents of domestic violence for England and Wales.
Number of BCS incidents of domestic violence, 1997 to 2001–02 BSC interviews England and Wales (Thousands) 1997 1999 2000 2001–02 BSC interviews Domestic violence 826 787 514 635 The BCS figures are estimates only. They are derived from a sample and so are subject to sampling error. Also, the context of the face-to-face BCS interview means the estimates are certain to be underestimates of the true extent because some respondents may be unwilling to reveal experience of domestic violence to interviewers. Results from the 1996 BCS self-completion module on domestic violence were published in Home Office Research Study No. 191, deposited in the Library. This more confidential approach to measurement revealed that the proportion of women that were victims in the last year of domestic assault was over three times higher than in the main BCS.
Details of homicides by constituency are not held centrally. The available information relates to currently recorded offences of homicide (murder, manslaughter and infanticide) where the relationship of the victim to the suspect includes current or former spouse, cohabitant or lover. Information for England and Wales is as follows.
820W
Number of homicides by current or former spouse, cohabitant or lover, England and Wales Year 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 131 104 112 127 148 As at 8 October 2002; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available.