There's lies, damned lies and then there's statistics

If someone were to ask you if you thought violent crime is falling in this country, what would you say? I think most people would say "up" or perhaps a more charitable "no change". I don't think anyone in their right minds would argue that violent crime has gone down by nearly a third since Labour came to power. And yet, that's just what we are being asked to believe.

Cardiff University's Violence and Research Group have been monitoring admissions for violence-related injuries in a representative sample of casualty units since the 1990s. Its research into 29 hospital A&E units are extrapolated to national levels.

For the past eight years, the overall number of people needing treatment has been falling.

In 2007, victims aged over 18 saw the greatest fall in violence, and among over 50s there was a 17% decline. Those aged 18 to 30 remained at greatest risk, making up nearly half of violence-related patients.

To paraphrase Victor Meldrew: I don't fucking believe it! And what a coincidence that news of this amazing reduction in youth crime comes on the same day as the Home Office released its quarterly figures, showing an even more unbelievable 31% reduction in violent crime measured over the last 10 years. And to go with it - of course - we have another initiative:

"That is why the government's recently published Tackling Violence Action Plan includes new resources for healthcare providers, local authorities and the police to share information to ensure that people at risk are protected and offenders are brought swiftly to justice."

Complete and utter fucking lies. Crime is NOT falling; violence is NOT falling. It is the REPORTING of violence that is falling; It is people choosing NOT to wait 5 fucking hours in casualty to see someone. It is people who know full well that the police will be powerless to do anything to help them. It is people TOO FUCKING SCARED to go to an inner city A&E department on a Saturday night. That is the reality of Britain under Labour. Just ask flak jacket Harman.