Crime has plunged to its lowest level since 1981, with the number of thefts, burglaries and fraud cases tumbling. The British Crime Survey yesterday revealed that the number of offences fell from 10.5 to 9.6 million - the first time the total has dropped below 10 million since records began.

Shadow Home Secretary Alan Johnson said the figures showed Labour had delivered on their promise to be "tough on crime" during the party's 13 years in power. Warwickshire Chief Constable Keith Bristow, a member of the Association of Chief Police Officers, called the results "a strong indication of our commitment to cutting crime".

He added: "Like many sectors, policing will be expected to deliver more for less. We recognise the challenge and remain resolutely committed to protecting the public." Across England and Wales, crimes recorded by police in 2009/10 fell by eight per cent, from 4.7 million to 4.3 million.

There were 615 murders, a fall of six per cent and the lowest number since 1997. Firearms offences were also down three per cent on the previous year at 7,995.

There has also been a two per cent drop in credit card fraud which had previously been rising steadily.

But some categories of violent crime such as wounding, violence without injury and mugging, showed minor increases.

Home Office chief statistician David Blunt said overall there were 6.5 million fewer victims of crime in 2009/10 than in 1995.

He admitted the property crime results, with domestic burglaries down by nine per cent and vehicle crime down 17 per cent, were "surprising". But he pointed to improved security measures, including alarms, better door and window locks and vehicle immobilisers as being partly responsible.

Home Secretary Theresa May welcomed the news of falling crime but warned the figures offer only a "partial picture".
Mrs May said: "Many offences, including anti-social behaviour, are not always reported or fully recorded, but ruin too many lives."

Downing Street acknowledged that the figures were "clearly down", but said that they were "still too high". A spokesman said: "There are still 26,000 crimes against people in the country every day."

VERDICT

By ALAN JOHNSON

We said would be tough on crime - and we were. The chances of being a victim are now at their lowest level since 1981. And since Labour swept to power in 1997, crime is down by 43 per cent. But instead of acknowledging this, and praising the police for their massive achievement, the Government is trying to claim crime has actually risen.

Without a shred of evidence, they are suggesting that the three main measures of offending, the British Crime Survey, police reports and hospital admissions data, are all wrong. We must not allow the ConDem coalition to get away with peddling the lie that crime is going up.

I will use every opportunity to expose their shabby opportunism. The Statisticians have rumbled this Government on crime - it's only a matter of time before everyone else does too. 43% Drop in crime since Labour came to power in 1997. Chances of being a victim of crime are at lowest since 1981.