Crime rate falls ... but violence is on rise

Crime in London has fallen by two per cent in a year, official figures being published next week will show. But the statistics will also point to rises in violent crime - which people fear most.

An Evening Standard analysis has revealed the trends a week before Scotland Yard's results for the last financial year are officially published. Key categories of crime, including sexual offences, burglary and muggings, will be shown to have fallen, with the biggest plunge in car crime, down more than seven per cent.

But the results will show a record number of murders, and a rise of three per cent in violent crime.

The category includes assault, actual bodily harm, murder and attempted murder but excludes muggings.

There is increasing public concern at the scale of crime involving violence - although Home Office figures are expected to show that the increase in offences in London is far lower than in the rest of the country. There has been a reduction in muggings thanks to continued efforts to cut street crime.

But the fall of five per cent is less than the previous year and means there are still more than 140 muggings every day in London.

The reduction in all crime is greater than in previous years. In April last year, the Yard revealed a fall in the previous year of just under one per cent.

But the Met is still to reduce crime below the one million mark and fear of crime has not fallen. However, it believes plans to employ 35,000 officers will help restore confidence and reduce violent offences.

A senior Scotland Yard source said: "It is a significant reduction, especially as it is against the background of terrorism."

The official figures will be released in the middle of a growing political row over crime. Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir John Stevens has become embroiled in a spat with Tory mayoral candidate Steve Norris over his claims that violent crime has soared in the last four years.