That's the legacy of Nulabours stance of 'tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime' policy stance, which omits the key element of 'being seen to be tough on the causes of crime' which is another matter altogether.

Hold on, "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime" is a meaningless Thatcher era soundbite.
Just because NuLab repeat it it only shows that that they really are ThatcherLite.

Perhaps so, but it shows them for what they are all about, doesn't it? Certainly if you look back over the last 12 years of labour government and their 'improvements' regarding crime and how (as you pointed out) figures are obtained. My addendum of 'being seen to be doing something' holds truth for many politicians, but especially this lot of wastrels.

I don't think there are many tabloids as we know them in America, at least not while I was living there.

The only one that comes to mind is the National Enquierer and that is just made up stuff....

Good grief chaps!....is this debate still going on? :o

Much safer to debate the hot topics here as opposed to some pub or street corner :hmmm:

Makes me feel kinda glad I'm just a simple pensioner now :DL

Sounds like you need a new avatar:

http://www.opednews.com/populum/uplo...20081003-1.jpg

:D

Now don't you go setting your lip up sonny

http://www.freefever.com/animatedgif...ted/men141.gif

Scuse me, sir, let me just get off your lawn. :88)

UK leads ? Black pudding is to blame! :rotfl:

An explanation of the British statistics - all old news, really:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...icle640550.ece