There is a tendency for people in Britain to believe that life today is more violent and dangerous than yesterday because we are barraged by a 24-hour news cycle. On a daily basis, we are told about an array of crimes and misdemeanours. It can sometimes overpower our imaginations and test our belief in the justice system. Despite this, the Home Office's most recent statistics indicate that since 2001, crime in England and Wales has decreased by 38%.

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