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<p>The publication of crime statistics is the responsibility of the Office for National
Statistics (ONS). Latest published figures (from Crime in England and Wales, year
ending December 2014) show that according to the independent Crime Survey for England
and Wales violence is 23% lower than it was in 2010. This is supported by National
Health Service data on hospital admissions for assault, which also indicates violence
is falling.</p><p>The ONS note that the recent changes in the level of violent crime
recorded by the police relates to action taken by police forces, including the Metropolitan
Police, to improve their compliance with the National Crime Recording Standard. This
renewed focus on the accuracy of crime recording by the police is likely to have resulted
in the increase in the number of offences recorded. However, we closely monitor trends
in violent crime, and in the last Parliament we took action to strengthen legislation
on knives to create new offences and introduce new sentences.</p>
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