The number of murders and other killings recorded by the police has fallen to its lowest level in nearly 30 years, official figures revealed today.
Crime statistics for 2011/12 show there were 550 murders, manslaughters and infanticides in England and Wales, a drop of 14 per cent from the 638 killings the year before, and the lowest total since 1983. There was a sharp drop in the number of homicides in London.
John Flatley, head of crime figures at the Office for National Statistics, which produced today’s report, said predictions of a surge in crime, including thefts, caused by the recession had not materialised.
The latest figures also represent a near 50 per cent fall from the murders peak of 2002/3 when the 172 killings by doctor Harold Shipman pushed up the annual homicide tally to 1,047.
Statisticians said one reason for today’s decline was a steep fall in killings in London, which typically accounts for around a fifth of the national total, with 104 homicides across the capital in 2011/12, compared with 132 the year before.
Another factor is thought to be falling levels of domestic violence, which officials suggested could have led to fewer killings by partners and ex-partners.
The fall in homicides is part of a national drop in total recorded crime announced today of four per cent with 3,976,312 offences during 2011/12 — the first time that the figure has fallen below four million since 1989.
Violent crime was down by seven per cent, with a five per cent fall in burglaries and a similar fall in knife crime, although the number of robberies
carried out with a blade remained steady. Some types of acquisitive crime, including pickpocketing and thefts of metal, wallets, mobile phones and bags were up two per cent to 1,105,117.
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Today’s fall is likely to be used by government ministers to support their case that police can cut crime even if their budgets are reduced further.
