Devon and Cornwall crime figures spark a debate over 'spin'

“33 degrees in radian. British Prime Minister David Cameron MP. Did you lie to your own.”

“Less police more paperwork. Less interest in smaller crimes leads to reduced figures. Looking at all that goes on and all the idiots wandering the streets drunk and disorderly ask yourself ' do you really feel safer than last year ? '”

“HOGWASH-crime falling -courts are failing-whilst keeping victims at the forefront of our plans (statistically speaking) of course”

“** Assistant Chief Constable Chris Boarland, who is responsible for crime and criminal justice, denied there had been a change in PR tactics from the force to overshadow the ONS figures.

He said there was "no conspiracy" and "no deliberate spin" and that the force regularly published its crime figures on its website.

"My understanding is that we have published figures, good or bad, at the same time as the ONS," he said. "This is no different."**

ANDY GREENWOOD, perhaps The Herald could do some research for the sake of the discussion, informing the public and assisting ACC Boarland and Andrew George MP by looking back say to 2000, and see when the figures were released from Devon and Cornwall police and the ONS?

We could then see if this release of statistics was out of the ordinary as claimed.

We'd have some facts to go on instead of the opposing opinion of two different sides that may or may not be correct. A bit of rigour would be useful especially when The Herald hosts the interactive webcast discussions with senior officers.”

“** But the force also proactively issued its own numbers yesterday – for April 2012 to January 2013 – which showed that crime had fallen by 5.5 per cent.

One West Country MP questioned the move. St Ives Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George said: "Coincidentally, the force has put out figures, over a different period, which manage to present a more positive image than the ones from the official statisticians. It undermines public confidence in the police if they are becoming more concerned about spin and presentation than proper operational management." **


What does 'proactively' mean in this instance?

Would cynically have been more fitting?

What does the new Police Commissioner Tony Hogg think of the release of out of date figures in a spin operation?

Shades of parts of the Police Federation smearing Andrew Mitchell?

Using out of data statistics fits with fairness and honesty? Police values have changed that much?

If Devon and Cornwall are the worst performing constabulary rather than halting police cuts, perhaps Tony Hogg should do a bit of weeding and replace some of those that are not up to scratch?”

“There is statistics, statistics and dam statistics....all official statistics are being manipulated by every public body and being used to hoodwink us all. Please stop treating us as fools.”

“Report non emergency crime by ringing 101 - wait 25 minutes whilst listening to Vivaldi`s Four Seasons on a continuous loop finally get fed up with waiting and ring off. Thats 20th Century Policing mr Hogg. Music is lovely though.”

“Whats next? Decrimialise drugs and regard drug related crime as a medical problem and not a criminal one? Just imagine how fantastic the figures would look then. Just remember folks in the words of Mr Hogg our new police commissioner - criminals are often victims too. So have a heart and luv a druggie today!”

“So long as the numbers look good -who cares that the real world has gone to hell in a handcart. The job of the National Office of Statistics is to provide jobs for civil servants who in turn churn out pointless figures and stats to keep the plebs happy and give the politicians the impression that they are actually earning their money. Absolute rubbish all of it. Fewer polie less crime yes of course that works.”

“Maybe - just maybe people dont bother to report crime anymore, whats the point, there is very little response,”