Home Office accused of releasing selective knife crime figures

[Albus]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/dec/13/knife-crime-data-home-office

The government found itself embroiled in another damaging row over crime figures yesterday after the head of the UK Statistics Authority accused the Home Office of releasing "selective" knife crime figures earlier this week.

Sir Michael Scholar said the figures, which showed a sharp decline in stabbings, had not been checked and were "premature, irregular and selective".

He also revealed that the statisticians behind the data and Karen Dunnell, the national statistician, all tried to stop the government from publishing.

He said the decision to publish the data in its current form was "corrosive of public trust" in official figures, and breached several parts of the Office of National Statistics code of practice which is intended to prevent the political manipulation of data or the impression of political manipulation.

[T_i_B]

1. If you've ever tried to look through crime statistics...

...it will soon be obvious that both Labour and Tory governments always try and massage the crime figures in every possible way they can get away with. No suprise here I'm afraid.

[mrfrapp]

2. Independence

Well, so much for the independence of the Office of National Statistics. It's been less than a year since then and already the government is abusing the relationship. I used to work for the ONS but sadly, because of the ONS's independence, I have since been shoe horned into the Identity and Passport Service (a branch of the Home Office).

Damnit! I joined the Civil Service because it was a good, secure job that made good use of my skills. I now find myself in a job I hate, working for lobotomized senior civil servants, in a branch of the government who's only purpose is to imprison people within the country of their birth. Bastards!