Crime Figures Down 7%

Police reform is working and crime is falling thanks to Liberal Democrats in Government, Crime Prevention Minister Norman Baker announced.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show crime against households is down by 7 per cent compared with the same time last year and has hit the lowest level since the record began in 1981.

Norman Bakersaid: "The drop in number of crimes is very welcome. It shows we are tackling crime better than any time during the last 30 years and are providing safer communities for people than Labour ever did.

"Police reform is working and crime is falling. Recorded crime has dropped yet again and now by more than ten per cent under the Coalition Government.

"People have the right to go about their daily lives without being scared of becoming victims of crime, and it is Lib Dems in the Coalition Government who are helping to make their lives safer."

The figures were announced following the launch last month of the National Crime Agency aimed at tackling the growing threat of serious and organised crime.

Further, Liberal Democrat Justice Minister Lord McNally has announced significant reforms for women offenders which will improve family relationships and employment opportunities, and aim to reduce the rates of reoffending.

The reforms will provide employment opportunities for low risk offenders.

Prison service staff will be responsible for forging links with local employers and providing practical training so offenders are able to join the workforce on release.

Next year a pilot will begin with a new open unit at HMP Styal focused on helping women into jobs on release. Only thoroughly risk-assessed female offenders would be eligible to be located there.

These reforms will help build on a falling female prison population, down by 10 per cent since 2010, alongside falling crime rates.

Commenting, Lord McNally said: "When a female offender walks out of the prison gates, I want to make
sure she never returns.

"Keeping female prisoners as close as possible to their homes, and importantly their children, is vital if we are to help them break the pernicious cycle of re-offending.

"And providing at least a year of support in the community, alongside the means to find employment on release, will give them the best possible chance to live productive, law abiding lives."