Are Robberies On The Increase?

We all hope that it doesn’t happen to us; a robbery, mugging or burglary. Unfortunately, it seems that crime is still very much prevalent in the country.
The British Crime Survey revealed that there are over 100,000 robberies in the country every year, although the Home Office stated that domestic burglary has fallen. Additionally, acts of vandalism were found to have increased, compared with previous years.

Responding to the figures the home secretary said: "There is still much work to be done and we will continue to work with our partners to make it increasingly difficult for criminals to operate."

The government recognises that every community is faced by a number of "unique challenges" due to crime with the home secretary stating that the department plans to work more closely with them to meet their needs.

It is often the case that although we feel less safe in our communities and, of course, because of sensationalist reporting, we hear about much more crime in actual fact there is a drop in crime across the country. Also some particular types of crime are increasing for example, sexual offences and personal theft and others are decreasing such as robberies and knife crime.

The British Crime Survey (BCS) is an important source of information about levels of crime and public attitudes to crime as well as other criminal justice issues. The results play an important role in informing Government policy.

The BCS includes crimes which are not reported to the police, so it is an important alternative to police records. The survey collects information about victims, circumstances and behaviour of offenders.

Top tips to prevent crime:

•    Find out if there is a neighbourhood watch in your area, if not set one up.
•    Talk to your local community police officers who can help with advice on how to stay safe.
•    Report any suspicious behaviour or gangs of youths roaming the streets.
•    Make sure you keep your house and car locked to prevent casual thieves.
•    Keep personal possessions out of sight.

If you would like to know more about how to prevent crime why not ask AnswerBank Law.