That doesn't sound right to me
Difficult without any details but the process is outlined here
http://rds.homeoffice...s/recordedcrime1.html
The decision should be made when it is reported not whether or not anyone was charged - and the reporting standard is documented here:
http://www.countingru...df/countrecstan03.pdf
The test is:
if, on the balance of probability:
(a) The circumstances as reported amount to a crime defined by law (the Police will
determine this, based on their knowledge of the law and counting rules).
and
(b) There is no credible evidence to the contrary.
I think you'll have to tell us more about your experience.
And yes I do believe it because most surveys seem to show this trend - however I do expect it to go up as unemployment and recession bites.
The Devil makes use of idle hands