The Home Secretary has set out a very clear commitment to accurate crime recording and the police have responded

Norfolk's police and crime commissioner has described examples of incidents his county's police are having to record as violent crimes as "jaw-dropping".  

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Crime Recording, Chief Constable Jeff Farrar responds:

“The Home Secretary has set out a very clear commitment to ensuring that the accuracy and integrity of police recorded crime. Since conducting an inspection of police crime recording in 2013, Sir Tom Winsor Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary (HMCIC) has also reiterated that forces will be held to account by the standards set out in the Home Office Counting Rules.  

“This in turn has meant that many forces have put in place direction and systems to ensure that reports of crimes are recorded at the earliest opportunity without initial investigation. This has left little room for further assessment or the use of professional discretion which may have historically taken place. Consequently a number of forces have seen a sharp rise in some offences such as assault without injury, criminal damage and public order.”

Further information - http://www.norfolk-pcc.gov.uk/news/pcc-releases-jaw-dropping-incidents-logged-as-violent-crime