Contents
This page contains definitions of the crime categories
Warning: This is archived material and may be out of date. The Metropolitan Police Authority has been replaced by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC).
See the MOPC website for further information.
Crime category definitions
Gun Crime
Violence Against the Person, robbery, burglary and sexual offences in which a firearm (defined as a weapon covered by Firearms Acts 1968 to 1988 and excluding CS/pepper spray) are used.
Simple possession, without intent or lawful authority, is excluded (For example, when a police search results in a discovery of possession of a weapon). n.b Data includes where a gun was 'threatened but not seen' from April 2008 onwards.
Knife Crime
All offences of Murder, attempted murder, threats to kill, manslaughter, infanticide, wounding or carrying out an act endangering life, GBH without intent, ABH and other injury, sexual assault, rape, robbery where a knife or sharp instrument (defined as any instrument that can pierce the skin) has been used.
Simple possession is excluded (For example, when a police search results in a discovery of possession of a weapon). Please note: data includes where a knife was 'threatened but not seen' from April 2008 onwards.
Most serious violence & assault with injury
MSV: Homicide and Child Destruction, Attempted Murder, Wounding or other act endangering life, GBH (Part), Causing Death by Dangerous/Careless/ Inconsiderate Driving, Causing Death by Aggravated Vehicle Taking.
Assault with injury: ABH and other injury and racially or religiously aggravated ABH and other injury
Youth Violence
Youth Violence is defined as any offence of Most Serious Violence and Assault with Injury or Weapon Enabled Crime, where the victim is aged 1-19
Does not include perpetrators under 20
Serious sexual offences
All offences of rape, sexual activity involving a child under 13, sexual assault, Causing Sexual Activity without consent, Sexual Activity etc with a person with a mental disorder, Abuse of children through prostitution and pornography, Trafficking for sexual exploitation. Excludes rape.
Residential Burglary
Offences of entering any residential building as a trespasser with the intent to steal or cause unlawful damage or having entered the building, steals or attempts to steal anything or inflicts or
attempts to inflict on any person therein any grievous bodily harm.
Excludes burglary of commercial property, sheds, outbuildings etc.
Robbery & Theft from a person
All offences where the use or threat of force in a theft from a person occurred, pick pocketing or snatch theft.
Theft of or from a vehicle
All offences of theft or unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle, aggravated vehicle taking and theft from a vehicle.
Business Crime
All offences of robbery of business property, employee theft, theft from shops, non-domestic burglary and fraud & forgery
Domestic Violence
All offences between adults who are or have been intimate partners or are family members, regardless of gender or sexuality
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