Home Office drink-related crime figures contradiction
The latest Home Office figures which link nearly half of all serious assaults to drink have been contradicted in separate Home Office reports.
Crime statistics compiled from police reports revealed there was an 11 per cent rise in violent crime with 271,500 assaults reported between October and December 2003. Home secretary David Blunkett has used the statistics as the driving force behind his call for a blitz on alcohol-related crime and underage drinking with police sting operations due to start in June.
But the Home Office's British Crime Survey (BCS), released at the same time, has revealed that violent crime has actually dropped by five per cent in the last year.
The BCS report, seen by many as a more accurate guide to crime in England and Wales, has challenged the findings leaving some angered by the government's knee-jerk reaction that could put the trade in the firing line.
Richard Slade, chairman of the North East region of the British Institute of Innkeeping and licensee at Magnesia Bank in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, said: "Pubs are becoming the whipping boys on violent crime.
"Where there's a reason for action against the trade you can't object, but the vast majority of licensees are running responsible businesses. What worries me is that this is building into a case against the licensed trade just in time for power to be handed over to local authorities."
Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations, is also nervous about the growing trend of pub bashing.
He said: "It's always pubs, pubs, pubs, when it comes to disorderly behaviour. The trade always gets the blame. "There isn't any blame put on supermarkets selling to underage drinkers or, of course, parents who don't take responsibility.
"It's no good the government just announcing another crackdown. They need to sit down with the trade and discuss what has already been done."
Why the statistics vary
The reason for the contradictory statistics in each of the reports has been blamed on the source of the information. The 11 per cent figure comes from crimes reported at police stations - due to new procedures more crimes are now being recorded and so this number has risen.
A spokesman for the Home Office said: "There is no doubt that the British Crime Survey is a more accurate and reliable view of the long-term trends in crime. Forms go to a huge number of people and if they don't have to report to a police station they are more inclined to put down their experiences."
Related articles:
Government crack down on irresponsible drinking (29 April 2004)
