Can we trust figures?

The latest statistics show crime is on the rise in Peterborough. But a police spokesman and the Police and Crime Commissioner were quick to throw comforting words to the PT and our readers ... reassuring us that this was down to the much more efficient way that crime is recorded and a change in the definition of some crime categories. People, we are told, feel more confident in reporting crimes and this is also playing a part. But how do they know this? How have they measured this? Why is it suddenly a factor this year? Frankly, as a journalist who has covered crime figures for more than 30 years the reasons pushed forward are becoming more than a little repetitive. A different way of counting crimes, a new standardisation of methods, an adjustment in categories, a sudden increase in the public’s confidence to report crimes... to be honest we have heard these all before. So why should the public believe any statistics. If we are to have any confidence in the figures they need to be able to trust them as a true reflection of what is happening. If crime is rising that is worrying and people want to know what is being done about it. They also want their police and emergency services funded well enough to do the job to their satisfaction. Crime figures should inform public debate, support calls for more resource and, ultimately, increase public confidence. To achieve that we need figures we can trust. >Mark Edwards >@PT Mark Edwards