The scale of fraud and cyber in crime statistics show the need for police reform to meet changing threats

National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Lead for Crime Recording, Chief Constable Jeff Farrar said:

“It is again encouraging to see crime recorded in this survey continuing to fall, police recording of crime becoming more accurate and victims more willing to report crime to the police.

“The estimated 3.8 million fraud and 2 million computer misuse offences, the significant increase in harassment offences, including revenge porn, and continuing rises in recorded sexual offences and domestic abuse recorded exemplify the changing and increasing demands on policing.  We’re working with Police and Crime Commissioners and leaders from across policing on a programme of reform that will develop new tactics and capabilities to meet these threats and keep people safe.

"We have seen an upward trend in knife related offences, which the service is determined to address. Operation Sceptre is one example of forces coming together to share good practice, educate and tackle the supply of illegal weapons. A key element of Operation Sceptre has also been for police forces to carry out enforcement activity including targeting habitual knife carriers and those shops who are willing to sell to those who are underage. These operations will continue throughout the rest of the year.”

A significant contributory factor to the increase in police recorded crime is the 27 per cent increase in records of violence without injury and 21 per cent rise in records of sexual offences; the Crime Survey of England and Wales (CSEW) has showed no significant change in these crime types. The Office of National Statistics suggests that increases are as a result of improved recording practices and greater victim confidence to report and do not indicate a marked rise in offending, with over half the forces in England and Wales seeing an increase in domestic violence incidents recorded as crimes. 

The full report from ONS can be viewed here:  https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/crimeinenglandandwalesyearendingmar2016#prereleaseaccesslist