The information requested is given in the following table.
Percentage rates for both total detections and sanction detections have been provided for the 10 main offence groups.
The emphasis on sanction detections means that overall (total) detection figures are a less meaningful comparative measure of police performance. The numbers of non sanction detections more than halved in 2006-07. This is a continuation of the trend seen in recent years in the use of these methods of clear up following local policy decisions taken by many forces in order to reduce bureaucracy.
Percentage 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 Offence group Total detection rate Sanction detection rate Total detection rate Sanction detection rate Total detection rate Sanction detection rate Total detection rate Sanction detection rate Total detection rate Sanction detection rate Violence against the person 54 36 50 33 53 36 54 42 51 46 Sexual offences3 39 32 36 30 34 28 35 31 32 30 Robbery 19 17 19 17 20 17 18 17 19 18 Burglary 12 11 13 12 13 12 14 13 14 14 Offences against vehicles 9 8 9 8 10 9 1.0 10 11 10 Other theft offences 21 19 20 18 20 18 22 20 23 22 Fraud and Forgery 26 23 26 23 26 24 29 27 28 27 Criminal damage 13 10 13 9 14 10 15 12 15 13 Drug offences 93 85 93 81 95 73 95 92 95 94 Other miscellaneous offences 76 70 73 68 70 65 71 68 70 68 Total recorded crime 23 19 23 19 26 20 27 24 27 26 1 Total detection rates comprise sanction detections and non-sanction detections as a percentage of offences detected. 2 Sanction detections include offences which are cleared up through a formal sanction, i.e. by an offender being charged or summonsed; being cautioned, reprimanded or given final warning; having an offence taken into consideration; receiving a penalty notice for disorder; or receiving a warning for cannabis possession. Non-sanction detections comprise those where the offence is counted as cleared up but no further action is taken. The overall detection rate has been affected by forces limiting the usage of non-sanction-detections. 3 The classification and coverage of offences included in the sexual offences group changed from 1 May 2004 following the introduction of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. This added a number of new offences and the definitions of other offences were broadened and therefore will have effected the detection rates.