Crime Stats: House Burglaries Rise By 14%

Burglaries have risen by 14% in the last year but overall crime has remained stable, the latest figures from the British Crime Survey show.

The increase followed a 9% fall in burglaries the previous year.

Overall, there were an estimated 9.6 million crimes in 2010/11, compared with 9.5 million the year before, according to the survey figures for England and Wales.

The survey is based on interviews with tens of thousands of people in more than 45,000 households.

Separate figures showed the number of crimes recorded by police fell slightly - down 4% to 4.2 million - compared with 4.3 million in 2009/10.

Knife crime recorded by police fell by 3% to 32,714 incidents, while serious sexual offences rose by 4% to 45,326 - 11% higher than in 2008/9.

The survey found the number of thefts of unattended mobiles, wallets and purses from pubs and household property increased by 10%.

The BCS report said there had been an easing of the falling levels of crime after "sustained reductions" since the mid-1990s.

Crime and Security Minister James Brokenshire said: "We have consistently argued that crime is too high and that is why our policing reforms are so urgently needed.

"Everyone has the right to feel safe in their home and local community.

"We want to make the police more accountable to the public they serve and ensure that local policing priorities are focused on what local people want, not on what central government thinks they want.

"We are placing power back in the hands of the people, giving them a proper say in how their local area is policed through elected Police and Crime Commissioners.

"We have introduced the first ever nationwide street level crime maps which, along with regular beat meetings, mean the public can hold their local force to account not just every four years but day in and day out."

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "After years of falling crime, these figures show the further progress people want is now at risk and there are some very worrying signs.

"Burglary is up by 14%, domestic violence is up by a shocking 35%, violent crime is up, including a 38% increase in 'assault with minor injury.'

"Overall crime hasn't fallen this year, after a drop of over 40% during the Labour years.

"Now is not the time for the government to take risks with community safety by cutting over 12,000 police officers. People want crime to fall further and the government is doing nothing to help.

"Chief Constables have been put in an impossible position by the sheer scale and pace of the government's 20% cuts.

"Theresa May has set out no strategy for cutting crime and she is making it harder for the police to do their jobs."