Gun and knife enabled crime in London

07/07
5 April 2007
MPA briefing paper

Author: Gemma Deadman, MPA

This briefing paper has been prepared to inform members and staff. It is not a committee report and no decisions are required.

Introduction

Following the current high profile cases of gun and knife crime in London over the past few months the MPA has compiled a briefing looking at crime over the past 5 years.

As of 1st of April 2004 the firearm definition changed to the PPAF (Policing Performance Assessment Framework) definition.

“All confirmed classifications relating to Violence against the Person (excluding possession of an offensive weapon), Sexual Offences, Robbery and Burglary where a firearm feature code has been added to the crime report or a gun has been seen or fired.”

The same definition is used for Knife Enabled Crime but substituting firearm feature codes with knife/sharp instrument feature codes.

Recorded Crime over 5 financial years

Recorded gun enabled crime and knife enabled crime for the latest financial year to date (06/07) has reduced when comparing to 2005/06 and also when compared to the level recorded 5 years ago (2002/03). Both crime categories experienced increases in the financial year 2005/06.

Robbery is the highest proportion of crime within the gun enabled crime category. The volume of gun-enabled robbery however has dropped year on year. Violence against the person has also dropped for every year since 2002/03. Common assault shows the greatest reduction falling from 486 offences in 2002/03 to 119 offences in 2006/07

The volumes of knife enabled robbery and violence against the person are similar. However the severity of knife enabled violent crimes is increasing. Knife enabled GBH and ABH show rises over the last 5 years. Knife enabled murder also shows increases with only 2005/06 dipping below the rising trend. Despite the rises in knife enabled murder the numbers are in fact very small and equate to just 0.5% of all knife-enabled crime.

Ethnicity

The ethnic appearance (IC) and self defined ethnicity (SDE) were both requested as a comparator for gun and knife enabled victim and accused but the results showed that in 50% of victim records SDE was not recorded. It is felt therefore that the ethnic appearance details are more representative in this instance.

Self-defined ethnicity of persons accused of gun and knife enabled offences show broadly similar results as ethnic appearance.

The data shows that 34% of victims of gun-enabled crime are White. Likewise 34% of accused are White. 26% of victims of gun-enabled crime are African/Caribbean but 56% of accused are African/Caribbean.

There are fewer White victims than 5 years ago but there have been fluctuations and the levels of White accused and both African/Caribbean victims and accused.

18% of victims of gun-enabled crime are Indian/Pakistani and this has risen over the last 2 years. 7% of accused are Indian/Pakistani.

The data shows that 47% of victims of knife-enabled crime are White but only 39% of accused are White. 23% of victims of knife-enabled crime are African/Caribbean but 42% of accused are African/Caribbean.

16% of victims of knife-enabled crime are Indian/Pakistani. 11% of accused are Indian/Pakistani.

Gender

The gender of victims and accused varies for both gun and knife enabled crime. Victims of gun-enabled crime are in the majority male, at 66% and female victims account for 23% (11% unrecorded). 95% of those accused of gun-enabled crime are male and 5% female.

The same trend is seen for knife-enabled crime but with a slightly higher proportion of male victims at 72% and female at 25%. Those accused of knife-enabled crime are split 90% male and 10% female.

Age

The age of victims of gun enabled crime has stayed broadly similar over the past 5 years. There has been no real change in the proportion of victims aged 10-17 (12%) a slight rise in victims aged 18-29 (36% to 38%) and a slight drop in victims aged 30-39 (21% to 18%). The level of unrecorded ages sits at 12% of all victims.

The proportion of knife enabled crime victims who are aged 10-17 has risen over the past 5 years from 17% to 23%, there are fewer victims from the older age group of 30-39 (21% to 18%).

The age of those accused of gun enabled crime shows a much higher proportion of 10-17 year olds being accused in the current figures than those recorded in 2002/03. Latest figures show 28% of all accused are aged 10-17 against 20% in 2002/03. A rise has also been recorded in the proportion of 18-29 year olds accused. Latest figures show 50% against 48% in 2002/03

The greatest proportionate drop in those accused of gun-enabled crime is for those aged 30-39. Figures have dropped from 20.5% in 2002/03 to 12.5% in 2006/07.

The ages of those accused of knife enabled crime also shows a much higher proportion of 10-17 year olds being accused in the current figures than those recorded in 2002/03. Latest figures show 29% of all accused are aged 10-17 against 21% in 2002/03. The age groups of 18-29 and 30-39 show reductions with the proportions recorded 5 years ago.

Summary

Gun and knife enabled crime is reducing in London. 2005/06 recorded an increase but latest financial year to date figures are down below levels recorded in every year since 2002.

The profile of gun-enabled crime has changed over the last 5 years with the proportion of gun enabled robbery increasing and the proportion of gun enabled violence decreasing.

Knife enabled crime shows increases in ABH and GBH over the last 5 years with the total violence against the person category accounting for 50% of all knife-enabled crime.

The ethnicity of victims and accused varies for both gun and knife enabled crimes.

34% of victims and those accused of gun enabled crime are White, however those accused of gun enabled crime who are African/Caribbean represent 56% of all accused but only 26% of all victims.

Indian/Pakistani victims of gun enabled crime and those accused is proportionately lower than the other categories above, but shows a greater proportion of victims (16%) than accused (11%).

The age of victims of gun-enabled crime has not changed over the last 5 years, however there is a higher proportion of 10-17 year olds accused of gun enabled crime in 2006/07 than was recorded in 2002/03.

The age of both victims and those accused of knife enabled crime has decreased over the last 5 years.

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