We receive our crime figures from the Home Office. They're based on the crime figures recorded every year by all police forces in England and Wales for the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs).

Check the answers below to some of our most frequently asked questions (FAQ)

• What are do the figures cover?
• What year are the figures for?
• What crimes do you cover?
• Is the population figure you use based on the census?

What area do the figures cover?

All crime figures are per 1,000 of the population within the local authority area.

What year are the figures for?

The figures are for crimes recorded during the financial year 2006/7.

What crimes do you cover?

The six key offence areas are:

• Violence against the person offences. (these range from murder to less serious offences)
• Sexual offences.
• Robbery offences.
• Burglary dwelling offences.
• Theft of a motor vehicle offences.
• Theft from a motor vehicle offences.

Is the population figure you use based on the census?

No, all crime figures are based on mid-2005 population estimates supplied by the Office for National Statistics They provide a good measure of trends in well-reported crimes however the police figures only cover those crimes recorded by the police.

Note:Caution needs to be taken when considering crime figures for city centre areas, due to the very small population and household levels in these areas.

For more detailed information about recorded crime figures visit the Home Office website.