Violent Crime as it is recorded by the police includes robbery, sexual
offences and violence against the person offences, such as assault and
murder. Serious violence covers a wide range of offences, including
homicide and serious wounding, offences involving guns and knives, domestic
violence and hate crime. While these crimes are relatively rare, when they
do occur they cause significant harm, both to individual victims and their
families in terms of physical injury and psychological trauma, and to
society more widely in terms of fear.
Much has been achieved with respect to violent crime over the past ten
years, yet the figures demonstrate that there is still more to do,
particularly in terms of tackling more serious violence. In 2008/09 British
Crime Survey demonstrated that police recorded violent crime, total
violence against the person decreased by 6%. The UK has one of the lowest
murder rates amongst the European Union, with London being below average
for EU capital cities. Government Offices have an active role in the effort
to continue bringing down the level of violent crime, which has fallen by
35 per cent since its peak in 1995. For the North West, there is
significant variation within the region with key challenges being faced in
the major urban areas.
Key policy areas on violent crime include Gun and gang crime, Alcohol and
violent crime, Domestic and sexual violence, Hate crime, Serious Youth
Violence/Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP).
