Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the publication of crime statistics, said:

“At long last, we have the true picture of crime in England and Wales and it puts the former Home Secretary’s record in a new light.

"Our new PM was fond of saying that crime is falling but, as people can see, crime has moved online and until now the official statistics haven’t shown that.

"Her complacent claims do not read well alongside these worrying increases in violent crime, sexual crime and homicide.

"The only conclusion that can be drawn is that it is the wrong time to be cutting the Police. The PM promised real-terms protection but has failed to deliver it. Now that decision is entirely within her hands, she must honour the promise that she made and protect frontline policing.

"She must also provide new resources for police forces to improve the investigation, detection and prosecution of cyber crime, which is currently an area of real weakness.

"These figures must snap the Government out of its complacent rhetoric on crime and it must start providing real answers.”