The Conservatives today denied distorting statistics amid claims that they distributed misleading figures on violent crime.

Official figures sent out for campaigning purposes to Tory activists in constituencies throughout England and Wales appeared to show that there had been sharp increases in violence during Labour’s time in office.

But a BBC investigation found that the Conservatives omitted Home Office warnings that the figures for the periods before and after 2002 were not comparable because of a change in the way violent crime was recorded.

Instead of police officers deciding whether an incident should be recorded as a violent crime, the decision was given to the alleged victim, with the effect of forcing up recorded violence by an estimated 35% in the first year, according to the BBC.

The British Crime Survey suggested that people’s experience of violent crime has in fact fallen by around 50% since 1995. Source: The Guardian.

One of Labour’s successes has been the reduction in crime – despite what the Cameron’s Tories and the tabloid press will have you believe – Chris Grayling, the shadow home secretary said.

“If you talk to anybody in the streets, and particularly in the poorest areas which are most affected by violent crime, you will find people will absolutely say that violent crime has risen sharply over the last 10 years,” he said.

“The reality is that that is the life they are experiencing. The problem we have got to deal with is not debates over statistics. It is actually sorting out these problems, it is delivering better policing in these areas and getting to grips with the problems in these communities.” Source: The Guardian.

Yes we need to get to grips with problems but not those that don’t exist – crime hasn’t increased it’s decreased – we’ve been successful – the question is how can we become even more successful – not that we’ve failed – the Tories won’t solve anything with their attitude.