Details of the information for the period 1995 -1999 on crime recorded by police in 32 countries is given below:

Total recorded crime fell by 1% in the EU Member States and by 10% in England and Wales.

England and Wales had one of the lowest homicide rates in Western Europe for 1997-1999.

Violent crime rose by 11% on average in the EU but by 20% in England and Wales.

Domestic Burglaries fell on average by 14 % in the EU but by 31% in England and Wales.

Theft from motor vehicles rose on average by 7% in the EU but fell by 27% in England and Wales.

Drug Trafficking offences rose on average by 31% in the EU but fell by 6% in England and Wales.

England and Wales (at 125 prisoners per 100,000 general population in 1999) had one of the highest per capita rates in Western Europe.

Kombucha, are you serious when you say there are no gunfights in Britain? You're completely ill informed. From http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime/guncrime/

The current situation
In some areas, gun crime is a major cause of fear and distress.

Most worrying is the rise in the number of young people carrying real or imitation firearms, either to boost their image, or from a misguided idea about self-protection. Some of this is linked to gang activity, which itself is linked to the illegal drug trade.

Contrary to public perception, the overall level of gun crime in this country is relatively low â?? less than half of 1 percent of all crime recorded by the police â?? and in the year ending 31 March 2004, there was:

a 15 per cent reduction in homicides involving firearms
a 13 per cent reduction in robberies involving firearms
Even so, we have seen an unacceptable rise in gun crime over recent years, and are doing everything we can to tackle it.

Didn't you hear about the gang killing the two girls in Birmingham? A friend of mine who was studying in leeds heard gunshots at night! Get your facts right.