Labour calls on Tories to come clean over dodgy claims on violent crime

Local Conservative Parties across the East of England have been caught using dodgy crime statistics, thought to have been prepared by Conservative HQ, to misrepresent the level of violent crime in our communities.

Labour have responded by calling on local Tory Candidates or MPs who have used these dodgy figures to come clean and apologise for misleading local people.

The Tories have claimed that violent crime is on the rise, but the way that police recorded crime statistics were compiled was altered in 2002- making their comparisons unreliable. Since 2002, the police have categorised more types of crime as violent to allow for a more accurate measure of crime involving violence. The Tories compare the violent crime statistics pre and post 2002 to try to show an increase in violent crime. But the statistics are simply not comparable and he is misleading the public as well as local media.

Experts agree that the best long-term indicator of crime trends is the British Crime Survey, an independent study run by national statisticians rather than through police recording.  The BCS has consistently recorded a fall in violent crime over the last twelve years and a 41% drop since 1997.

David Cameron never misses an opportunity to talk Britain down. His “broken Britain” rhetoric is to a large degree based on his claim that violent crime has risen by 70% over the past decade.

Labour have challenged Mr Cameron to explain why he deliberately chooses to mislead the public – but he refuses to respond. He was equally evasive when challenged by the BBC.

Now Labour is challenging local Conservative Parties to come clean if they have tried to use these distorted figures across our region.

A spokesperson for Labour in the East of England said:

”Labour candidates and MPs are working hard in their communities to reduce crime and the fear of crime, and Labour's investment in policing is paying off. The fact that the Conservatives have been using dodgy figures to misrepresent the levels of violent crime is just plain wrong. Violent crime is a serious issue that should not be used in a misleading way for party political advantage.

“The Tories know that people are facing up to the fact that this election will be a choice on the future of Britain. No wonder they are running scared and using dodgy figures.

“By using these misleading figures, the local Tories have mislead local newspapers, radio stations and communities. Local Tories should apologies immediately if they have used these dodgy statistics.”

Alan Johnson MP, Labour's Home Secretary said:

"I have asked David Cameron twice why he uses dodgy statistics to mislead the public about crime but he has not responded. Instead he and Chris Grayling prefer to continue to talk Britain down.

"Crime is down by 36% since 1997 and violent crime down by 41%. These statistics are recognised by everyone - except David Cameron and Chris Grayling - as accurate. Despite this and despite Iain Duncan Smith agreeing that the Conservatives' comparisons are profoundly misleading, the Tories refuse to promise they will not use misleading crime statistics in the future.

"It's one thing to make a slip up on your figures - it's quite another to deliberately mislead."