BRITAIN’S crime rate dropped again in the third quarter of 2009, continuing a trend that saw London’s murder rate drop to its lowest for more than a decade.


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Home Office figures recorded 8% fewer crimes overall between July and September 2009 than in the three months previous, with burglaries down by 8% and robberies by 9%.

Car crime was an even less popular activity for the criminal classes, dropping gear by 20% over the same period.

“Recorded crime statistics published today are good news overall showing significant reductions which reflect the hard work of the police service and our partners to keep people safe from harm in every community,” said Chief Constable Keith Bristow of the Association of Chief Police Officers.

The parallel British Crime Survey, which measures what people say about crime in their own lives, rather than the police stats, also brings good news, albeit less marked. It shows a drop from 23% to 22% for the risk of being a victim of crime, the lowest figure on record.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police’s own annual stats are in broad agreement with the national picture. Total crime in London in 2009 was down 2.3% and, as well as the historically low murder rate – down by 16% from 155 to 130 – knife crime in 2009 also showed a welcome drop, this time by 7.9%.

However, unlike in the rest of Britain, burglary seems to be on the rise in London; it posted a 2.5% rise.