WORKSHEET - interview with the Home Affairs Minister about crime statistics

Interviewer: A government report published today has shown a dramatic fall in recorded crime. You must
be very pleased with the findings.
Home Affairs Minister: Yes , indeed, I was delighted when I 1) the figures. When I got
elected , one of our priorities was a reduction in the high crime figures.
Interviewer : Can you pinpoint the measures which have had the most significant impact?
Minister : First, attitudes to committing crimes have changed significantly since Peter Miles was appointed
head of the police service. A much higher proportion of offenders 2) during the last
ten years than ever before. Second , a huge amount has been invested in surveillance,
particularly closed- circuit television. CCTV 4) widely now in helping prevent car crime in
particular.
Third, I’d pick out our Make Amends scheme. Most people found guilty of vandalism 5) now
to repair the damage .
Interviewer: But it’s not all good news. Some categories of crime have risen quite sharply, haven’t they?
Street crime is up to over 25%!
Minister: The reason for this 6) in the huge increase in the number of mobile
phones. But this figure 7) to fall rapidly as new technology starts being introduced to
trace stolen mobiles
Interviewer: And drug-related crime is on the increase…
Minister: Well, it’s certainly true that more 8) selling drugs.
Interviewer: There have been questions raised about the accuracy of the figures in the report?
Minister: Well, it may be that some minor mistakes 9) in collecting the figures.
Interviewer: It must concern you that despite the number of crimes falling in recent years, a majority of
people believe that the crime rate has actually gone up. If I can give a personal example, my house
10) only last week and I 11) my TV and stereo . Virtually every person in
my
road has had a burglar alarm fitted recently.
Minister : I’m very sorry to hear that.
Interviewer: You don’t believe then, as many people do, that crime is actually on the increase but that
fewer crimes 12) to the police
Minister: I do accept that some of the fall 13 ) by lower rates of
reporting, but I’m sure this is has had a very small impact on the figures.
Interviewer: Kate Pullman, thank you.
Minister: Thank you