Violent crime arrests leap 20%- Bad news released on a Fridy

The number of people arrested for violence against the person leapt by a fifth last year, new Home Office figures show.

A total of 395,800 people were detained by police for assaults and other serious violent crime in 2004/5, compared with 332,100 the previous year.

Five years earlier, arrests for violence came to 255,500, meaning the number held has jumped by 55% since 1999/2000.

In all, 1.35 million people were arrested in England and Wales in 2004-05, up 2% year-on-year.

Across all types of violent crime - including sexual offences and robbery - there was a 16% increase to 460,000 arrests.

The figures also revealed a significant leap in the number of stop and searches carried out by police.

This was thought to be as a result of the heightened security threat, even though the latest figures did not cover the period after the July 7 terror bombings.

Stop and search was used on 851,200 individuals and vehicles in the year, up 14%.

Of the 42 police forces, 31 used the controversial tactic more often.

The number of people stopped for "other" reasons - which includes on suspicion of terrorism - rose 32% in 2004-05 to 58,700. The proportion arrested as a result of a stop and search fell 2% to 11%, indicating that police officers were using the tactic less appropriately.

Ed: Tony up to tricks again. Figures showing his abject failure to deal with serious crime just happen to get released on the Friday afternoon before Christmas Week. The man is a disgrace