§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on crime trends within the Metropolitan Police Authority area. [170492]
§ Ms BlearsThe most recent figures published by the Home Office, for the year 2002–03, show that the total number of recorded crimes for the Metropolitan Police Service increased by 2 per cent. compared to the previous year, but that the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) inflated the figures in 2002–03 by 12 per cent.
I understand that the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis recently published recorded crime statistics for the Metropolitan Police Service which showed a decrease in total recorded crime of 2 per cent. for the year ended March 2004, as compared with the previous year.
The national crime statistics for all police forces for 2003–04 are due to be published in July.