Government: crime figures wrong
Updated on 23 October 2008
The home office admits some police forces have been under-counting the number of serious violent offences by classing grievous bodily harm as a lesser assault.
The home office refused to name the forces involved but officials admitted the under-counting could have been going on for more than 10 years.
As a result, violent crime is down in England and Wales compared with last year, but the official total of the most serious offences has gone up by 22 per cent.
The government's strategy on gun and knife crime has also been criticised by MPs.
Two of the most serious categories of knife crime also shot up after the miscounting was revealed.
Attempted murders in England and Wales involving a knife between April and June this year were 28 per cent up on last year.
Assaults causing grievous bodily harm with intent rose by 29 per cent.
Perhaps surprisingly, there is no data whatsoever on the number of murders committed with a knife.
