The Office For National Statistics reports that overall crime is down. This contrasts with the latest 'Crime Survey For England & Wales' which talks of increases in "personal acquisitive crime." We know them as muggings, pickpocketing and thefts. This category rose by 13% in 2011 to 1.9 million.
Domestic burglaries were apparently down but in our experience, these are often downgraded to theft or criminal damage. Indeed, thefts from buildings rose by 5% and this includes the growing trend of theft of metal from roofs due to increased prices in the metal markets.
Serious sex crime rose by 2%.
Labour reckon that the Coalition Government is cutting 16,000 police officers. HS&Co and M23law detect growing problems with officers time dealing with the paperwork on arrests, often taking hours. Our lawyers travel throughout the country representing suspects and we notice a growing lack of morale in the rank and file police. There is an increased use of poorly trained PCSOs and how long before they get the power of arrest after attending a two day session at Hendon?
In November, newly elected Crime Commissioners will need to spotlight the reality of criminal acts in their bailiwick and see through the fog of statistics.
The pernicious bureaucracy is all pervasive in the justice system, such as in the quango run Legal Aid sector. Increasingly, suspects are contacting this firm to represent them on a private basis. This applies to both the investigation and court stages.
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