Two articles from the BBC Online, so I started a new thread.
Gee, didn't the liberals used to say that poverty caused crime? -- "Research published by the home office last year suggested Britain was on the brink of a sharp rise in crime, partly due to increased personal wealth."
Lots of other idiotic statements to choose from. The FAQ section has some interesting stuff too.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_609000/609480.stm
Tuesday, 18 January, 2000, 22:13 GMT
Straw under fire on crime
Home Secretary Jack Straw is facing calls for his resignation as criticism mounts over a 2.2% rise in crime in England and Wales.
A huge surge in muggings, and a worrying rise in violent crime, were revealed in newly published Home Office statistics.
Glen Smyth, of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said the figures indicated the time had come for Mr Straw to consider his position, blaming him for falling police numbers and dwindling morale.
Crime figures for England and Wales, 1998/99
Overall crime rose by 2.2%
Recorded crime fell in 24 out of the 43 police forces
84% of offences were against property
13% were violent crimes
"If he can't put things right he should make way for somebody who can," he said.
"If he doesn't consider his position, then the prime minister should."
The figures for recorded offences, a blow to the government's anti-crime crusade, show the first rise in England and Wales for six years.
The number of robberies - most of them muggings - increased by 19% in the year to September 1999 compared with a fall of nearly 6% over the previous 12 months.
Overall, police in England and Wales recorded a total of 5.2 million offences in the year to September 1999 - an increase of 2.2%.
Failed promise
Shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe also expressed her horror at the figures, which she said underlined Labour's failed promise to get tough on crime.
She accused Mr Straw of "slashing police numbers", "hammering police morale" and "letting criminals out of prison early".
"People will be quite right to demand an urgent explanation from the home secretary as to why we are less and less safe on our streets," she said.
Home office minister Lord Bassam rejected the criticism, highlighting the Conservatives' record on cutting crime.
"Under the Tories, crime doubled while the number of criminals brough to book in the courts dropped by a third," he said.
'Hard reality'
Home Secretary Jack Straw acknowledged the new increase, but said the figures showed "a dramatic variation in crime rates across the country".
The home office figures showed that the biggest rise in crime was recorded by the City of London force, which saw a 22% rise, followed by the West Midlands force (16%) and Bedfordshire (12%).
In London, Britain's biggest force, the Metropolitan Police, saw its total number of offences top the million mark with a 9% rise in offences.
The city has witnessed a heated debate over stop and search tactics which have disproportionately targeted members of the black community.
Crime figures for England and Wales 1998/99
Violent offences: Up 5%
Sexual offences: Up 2%
Robberies: Up 19%
Domestic burglary: Down 5%
Non-domestic burglary: Down 3%
Theft of motor vehicles: Down 2%
Stop and searches have declined following the Macpherson Report into the death of the black teenager Stephen Lawrence - which criticised the tendency to target black and Asian youths.
Some senior policemen have blamed that for an increase in street crime, and Mr Straw admitted the reluctance of officers to use stop and search powers following the report "may have been a factor" behind the rise.
The figures released on Tuesday are broken down into divisional areas of police forces for the first time.
They show a variable picture of the ability of forces to tackle crime, with Lancashire showing the biggest drop in offences with 11%. Research published by the home office last year suggested Britain was on the brink of a sharp rise in crime, partly due to increased personal wealth.
Rapes increase sharply
The rise in violent crime, which includes attacks, sex offences and robbery, is the largest since 1995/1996, when attacks increased by 10%.
West Yorkshire - along with Northumbria - was one of just two metropolitan forces where crime fell.
Most offences are committed by men aged under 24, while the 1980s baby boom also contributed to warnings of imminent problems.
Crime figures for Scotland will be published in March or April.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_609000/609212.stm
Q & A: Crime figures
The Home Office has released recorded crime figures for England and Wales - for the first time they include a breakdown of the statistics by police division. The BBC's Danny Shaw explains.
What difference does listing individual police division figures make?
Police force crime figures have always been available - what's different is that there are figures for each area, or division, within a force... around 320 divisions in total - enabling police to pinpoint exactly where the worst troublespots are. Targets will be set to reduce crime in those areas.
Why are some forces apparently better than others?
The composition of police forces varies hugely... some are rural, some urban, some a mixture... some areas have a high number of unemployed people, poverty and deprivation - which may lead to certain kinds of crime; others have a lot of businesses and shops, which may attract specific types of crime.
Then there's policing - there are 43 police forces and each one has its own way of doing things - some chief constables are better than others; some forces more motivated than others.
What are the improvements in the recording and reporting of crime which Home Secretary Jack Straw refers to?
Over the years, police have encouraged people to report certain types of offences they previously wouldn't have done - such as rape and race hate crimes. In those areas, there are signs the public has more confidence that the police will take them seriously if they do report the crimes. Also, police statistical methods and counting methods are more sophisticated and rigorous than they used to be.
Is there any reason why robberies increased by so much (19%) when other crimes have fallen or recorded smaller increases?
Most robberies are muggings - 85% - and most are carried out in four urban areas - in the Metropolitan police, West Midlands police, West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. The police argue the increase is due to a reduction in the number of stop and searches - the tactic used by the police to question and search people on the street who may be in possession of weapons or drugs. But the precise reasons are far from clear. It may be a blip; it may be something to do with local conditions - it's very hard to know.
Do police chiefs favour stop and search?
Yes, especially those in urban areas like London. However, they recognise that stop and searches need to be conducted more sensitively and less needlessly.
What's the government's view?
They back stop and search as they say it is an effective tool in the fight against crime - however they too believe that officers could be more careful in the way stops are conducted and are concerned that disproportionate numbers of black people are stopped.
Does the Home Office point to any underlying reasons for the increase in crime?
The figures suggest that crime - which was falling for six years - has gone up slightly, by 2.2% - but it's not clear why. In some areas - 24 police forces - crime fell; two areas - the West Midlands and London - accounted for most of the increase - if it hadn't been for those two areas crime would have fallen.
The Home Office says that in the west Midlands, new counting methods may be responsible for the changes. In London, officers have had a difficult couple of years - with the MacPherson report hitting morale in the force and affecting people's confidence in the police.
Demographic factors come into it as well - rising numbers of young men - who commit most crimes may be a factor; and increasing affluence means more property to steal.
What do police chiefs say about the increase?
In London, they point to the last three months in which the upward crime trend has been reversed.
What do the opposition parties say about the increase?
They say it's down to Labour incompetence principally their failure to put more bobbies on the beat and provide resources for cash-strapped police forces.
------------------
Nevada alt C.A.N.
The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.
Gee, didn't the liberals used to say that poverty caused crime? -- "Research published by the home office last year suggested Britain was on the brink of a sharp rise in crime, partly due to increased personal wealth."
Lots of other idiotic statements to choose from. The FAQ section has some interesting stuff too.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_609000/609480.stm
Tuesday, 18 January, 2000, 22:13 GMT
Straw under fire on crime
Home Secretary Jack Straw is facing calls for his resignation as criticism mounts over a 2.2% rise in crime in England and Wales.
A huge surge in muggings, and a worrying rise in violent crime, were revealed in newly published Home Office statistics.
Glen Smyth, of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said the figures indicated the time had come for Mr Straw to consider his position, blaming him for falling police numbers and dwindling morale.
Crime figures for England and Wales, 1998/99
Overall crime rose by 2.2%
Recorded crime fell in 24 out of the 43 police forces
84% of offences were against property
13% were violent crimes
"If he can't put things right he should make way for somebody who can," he said.
"If he doesn't consider his position, then the prime minister should."
The figures for recorded offences, a blow to the government's anti-crime crusade, show the first rise in England and Wales for six years.
The number of robberies - most of them muggings - increased by 19% in the year to September 1999 compared with a fall of nearly 6% over the previous 12 months.
Overall, police in England and Wales recorded a total of 5.2 million offences in the year to September 1999 - an increase of 2.2%.
Failed promise
Shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe also expressed her horror at the figures, which she said underlined Labour's failed promise to get tough on crime.
She accused Mr Straw of "slashing police numbers", "hammering police morale" and "letting criminals out of prison early".
"People will be quite right to demand an urgent explanation from the home secretary as to why we are less and less safe on our streets," she said.
Home office minister Lord Bassam rejected the criticism, highlighting the Conservatives' record on cutting crime.
"Under the Tories, crime doubled while the number of criminals brough to book in the courts dropped by a third," he said.
'Hard reality'
Home Secretary Jack Straw acknowledged the new increase, but said the figures showed "a dramatic variation in crime rates across the country".
The home office figures showed that the biggest rise in crime was recorded by the City of London force, which saw a 22% rise, followed by the West Midlands force (16%) and Bedfordshire (12%).
In London, Britain's biggest force, the Metropolitan Police, saw its total number of offences top the million mark with a 9% rise in offences.
The city has witnessed a heated debate over stop and search tactics which have disproportionately targeted members of the black community.
Crime figures for England and Wales 1998/99
Violent offences: Up 5%
Sexual offences: Up 2%
Robberies: Up 19%
Domestic burglary: Down 5%
Non-domestic burglary: Down 3%
Theft of motor vehicles: Down 2%
Stop and searches have declined following the Macpherson Report into the death of the black teenager Stephen Lawrence - which criticised the tendency to target black and Asian youths.
Some senior policemen have blamed that for an increase in street crime, and Mr Straw admitted the reluctance of officers to use stop and search powers following the report "may have been a factor" behind the rise.
The figures released on Tuesday are broken down into divisional areas of police forces for the first time.
They show a variable picture of the ability of forces to tackle crime, with Lancashire showing the biggest drop in offences with 11%. Research published by the home office last year suggested Britain was on the brink of a sharp rise in crime, partly due to increased personal wealth.
Rapes increase sharply
The rise in violent crime, which includes attacks, sex offences and robbery, is the largest since 1995/1996, when attacks increased by 10%.
West Yorkshire - along with Northumbria - was one of just two metropolitan forces where crime fell.
Most offences are committed by men aged under 24, while the 1980s baby boom also contributed to warnings of imminent problems.
Crime figures for Scotland will be published in March or April.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_609000/609212.stm
Q & A: Crime figures
The Home Office has released recorded crime figures for England and Wales - for the first time they include a breakdown of the statistics by police division. The BBC's Danny Shaw explains.
What difference does listing individual police division figures make?
Police force crime figures have always been available - what's different is that there are figures for each area, or division, within a force... around 320 divisions in total - enabling police to pinpoint exactly where the worst troublespots are. Targets will be set to reduce crime in those areas.
Why are some forces apparently better than others?
The composition of police forces varies hugely... some are rural, some urban, some a mixture... some areas have a high number of unemployed people, poverty and deprivation - which may lead to certain kinds of crime; others have a lot of businesses and shops, which may attract specific types of crime.
Then there's policing - there are 43 police forces and each one has its own way of doing things - some chief constables are better than others; some forces more motivated than others.
What are the improvements in the recording and reporting of crime which Home Secretary Jack Straw refers to?
Over the years, police have encouraged people to report certain types of offences they previously wouldn't have done - such as rape and race hate crimes. In those areas, there are signs the public has more confidence that the police will take them seriously if they do report the crimes. Also, police statistical methods and counting methods are more sophisticated and rigorous than they used to be.
Is there any reason why robberies increased by so much (19%) when other crimes have fallen or recorded smaller increases?
Most robberies are muggings - 85% - and most are carried out in four urban areas - in the Metropolitan police, West Midlands police, West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. The police argue the increase is due to a reduction in the number of stop and searches - the tactic used by the police to question and search people on the street who may be in possession of weapons or drugs. But the precise reasons are far from clear. It may be a blip; it may be something to do with local conditions - it's very hard to know.
Do police chiefs favour stop and search?
Yes, especially those in urban areas like London. However, they recognise that stop and searches need to be conducted more sensitively and less needlessly.
What's the government's view?
They back stop and search as they say it is an effective tool in the fight against crime - however they too believe that officers could be more careful in the way stops are conducted and are concerned that disproportionate numbers of black people are stopped.
Does the Home Office point to any underlying reasons for the increase in crime?
The figures suggest that crime - which was falling for six years - has gone up slightly, by 2.2% - but it's not clear why. In some areas - 24 police forces - crime fell; two areas - the West Midlands and London - accounted for most of the increase - if it hadn't been for those two areas crime would have fallen.
The Home Office says that in the west Midlands, new counting methods may be responsible for the changes. In London, officers have had a difficult couple of years - with the MacPherson report hitting morale in the force and affecting people's confidence in the police.
Demographic factors come into it as well - rising numbers of young men - who commit most crimes may be a factor; and increasing affluence means more property to steal.
What do police chiefs say about the increase?
In London, they point to the last three months in which the upward crime trend has been reversed.
What do the opposition parties say about the increase?
They say it's down to Labour incompetence principally their failure to put more bobbies on the beat and provide resources for cash-strapped police forces.
------------------
Nevada alt C.A.N.
The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.