Note: Forces were allowed to provide revised figures for 2008/09 following an HMIC quality assurance inspection. Affected Excel tables have been updated to reflect revised recorded crime figures submitted by forces prior to the publication of the quarterly bulletin on the 22nd October 2009. The changes are relatively small at the national level.

Crime in England and Wales 2008/09 is the eighth report in an annual series that combines the reporting of police recorded crime and the British Crime Survey (BCS) results. The police recorded and BCS figures are a complementary series that together provide a better picture of crime than could be obtained from either series alone.

		The police recorded crime data reports on the financial year 2008/09. Police statistics provide a good measure of trends in well-reported crimes, are an important indicator of police workload, and can be used for local crime pattern analysis.
		BCS results are based on interviews conducted in the financial year 2008/09. For the crime types it covers, the BCS can provide a better reflection of the true extent of household and personal crime because it includes crimes that are not reported to the police. The BCS count also gives a better indication of trends in crime over time because it is unaffected by changes in levels of reporting to the police and in police recording practices.

We publish the annual crime statistics report every July. The annual publication and supplementary volumes are published under the National Statistics Protocol. This means the publication date is pre-announced on the National Statistics website and pre-release access arrangements are formalised and published on the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) website and the Home Office website.


Content of the full annual report

The main report (Volume 1) begins with a summary of the main findings and background information on the BCS and police recorded crime statistics. Chapters within the report focus on the level and trends in crime, but also give a broader analysis of violent crime and property crime. The report also focuses on public perceptions of crime, patterns of crime across England and Wales and detections.

Main Volume (pdf, 1.2MB) See below for revised Excel tables (pdf documents have not been updated)

for quicker download, individual chapters are also available:

Chapter 1 - Summary of the main findings (pdf, 156KB)
Chapter 2 – Extent and trends (pdf, 220KB) See below for revised table 2.04
Chapter 3 – Violent and sexual crime (pdf, 132KB) See below for revised table 3.10
Chapter 4 – Property crime (pdf, 116KB)
Chapter 5 – Public perceptions (pdf, 140KB)
Chapter 6 –Detection of crime (pdf, 60KB) See below for revised table 6.01
Chapter 7 – Geographic patterns of crime (pdf, 236KB) See below for revised tables 7.03-7.07, 7.12-7.15
Appendix 1 – Crime statistics used in Public Service Agreements (pdf, 24KB)

Statistical tables from the chapters are available in Excel format:

Chapter 2 tables (392KB)*
Chapter 3 tables (152KB)*
Chapter 4 tables (60KB)
Chapter 5 tables (216KB)
Chapter 6 tables (84KB)*
Chapter 7 tables (272KB)*

* Includes tables that have been revised to reflect revised recorded crime figures submitted by forces prior to the publication of the quarterly bulletin on the 22nd October 2009.

Original tables are available here.

Table 2.01 (with additional BCS years) is available (Excel)
Table 2.03 (with additional BCS years) is available (Excel)

Additional explanatory notes and classifications for police recorded crime and the BCS is available in Volume 2.

Volume 2 (pdf 456KB)

The latest technical report providing more information about the BCS is available (pdf):

2008-09 British Crime Survey (England and Wales) Technical Report Volume I

Local statistics

Additional tables reporting statistics for individual Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships, Local Authority areas and Basic Command Units are available:

The following tables have been revised to reflect revised recorded crime figures submitted by forces prior to the publication of the quarterly bulletin on the 22nd October 2009.

Original tables are available here.


Interactive maps of local authority level police recorded crime data are available here. (requires Flash plug-in)

This website also allows users to tabulate crime data and to download the results.

Wales
A Welsh factsheet to accompany the main volume is available.
Wales Cymru


Supplementary Volumes

Throughout the year we produce a number of supplementary volumes focusing on particular crime topics.

Perceptions of crime and anti-social behaviour: Findings from the 2008/09 British Crime Survey - Supplementary Volume 1 to Crime in England and Wales 2008/09

Crime in England and Wales 2008/09: Supplementary Tables: Nature of burglary, vehicle-related theft, bicycle theft, other household theft, personal and other theft, vandalism and violent crime


See also

• British Crime Survey and other surveys
• Police recorded crime
• Methodological information about the British Crime Survey
• For more information on National Statistics

Key publications

• Crime in England and Wales, 2007/08 main volume
• Summary of main statistics, 2007/08

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