| 5. Offences
recorded by the police |
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| General |
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| 5.1 The
number of offences recorded by the police in 1998
totalled 516,000, an increase of 28,000 cases, equivalent
to an increase of 6 per cent (Table 2). |
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| Miscellaneous offences |
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| 5.2 The
number of miscellaneous offences fell by 1 per cent from
156,000 in 1997 to 154,000 in 1998. Recorded cases of
petty assault rose by 870 cases in 1998, an increase of 2
per cent, while the number of cases of breach of the
peace fell by 2 per cent from 73,100 in 1997 to 71,700 in
1998. Recorded cases of drunkenness fell by 12 per cent
to total 8,500 in 1998. The number of offences in the
‘other’ sub-group (minor statutory offences)
whilst showing a small decrease, was similar to the
number recorded the previous year and remains well above
the average for the previous five years. |
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| Motor vehicle offences |
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| 5.3 The
number of motor vehicle offences recorded in 1998 rose
from 331,000 in 1997 to 362,000 in 1998, an increase of 9
per cent which was largely attributable to an increase in
the number of speeding offences in 1998 (115,500), up 26
per cent on the previous year. Many forces confirmed that
speeding was actively targeted during 1998, e.g. national
campaigns such as Speedwatch. There were decreases in the
number of cases of dangerous and careless driving and
drunk driving which fell by 3 and 6 per cent
respectively. |
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| 5.4 The
number of cases of unlawful use of a vehicle numbered
75,500 in 1998, a decrease of 5 per cent. Vehicle defect
offences rose by 6 per cent (3,400 cases) to total 63,600
in 1998. The ‘other’ sub group rose by 12 per
cent (8,900 cases) and was largely attributable to an
increase in the number of seat belt offences recorded by
the police. |
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