Stabbings among British crime increases

LONDON, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- The number of fatal stabbings has increased in Britain, part of an alarming rise in certain crimes throughout the country last year, data indicate.

The British Crime Survey found the 270 fatal stabbings that took place in Britain in 2007-08 were a record high, The Daily Telegraph reported Thursday.

In addition to an increase in deadly stabbing incidents, Britain endured a 16 percent increase in fraud and forgery acts between July and September 2008.

According to Home Office quarterly crime statistics, that same time period saw acts of robbery with a knife increase by 18 percent and burglaries increase by 4 percent compared with the previous year.

While Home Secretary Jacqui Smith says crime in Britain has fallen 69 percent during the last decade, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling saw the 2008 figures as alarming signs of the ongoing economic crisis.

"These statistics show yet another harsh consequence of Gordon Brown's economic downturn," Grayling told the Telegraph, referring to the British prime minister. "This is made worse because the home secretary clearly has no idea how to deal with this credit crunch crime wave."