From The daily Telegraph last month.
"...in response to a briefing paper given to the Metropolitan Police Authority outlining Home Office changes to the definition of crimes.
Under the changes, police have been told to classify all offences as gun or knife crime when there is a threat with a weapon. Previously, this did not happen if the weapons were hidden.
Similarly, more assaults are to be classified as grievous bodily harm rather than the less serious actual bodily harm when a victim is injured.
In the memo, Det Chief Superintendent Peter Barron said: "The potential increase could be a rise in recorded GBH of 58 per cent, a rise in gun crime of 20 per cent and a rise in knife crime of 15 per cent."
Last year there were 22,151 recorded knife crimes in England and Wales and 9,803 firearm offences.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "The issue is about the impact of these changes to recording processes, required of all forces in England and Wales, and not about a rise in actual crime.
"A Home Office spokesman: ``We have always included threats and attempts in gun and knife crime figures but in April 2008 we clarified the definition to include crimes where the victim believes a gun or knife might be used. There is an unprecedented clamp down on knife crime underway through the Tackling Knives Action Programme launched earlier this year and part of this is looking for ways to constantly improve our understanding about crime on our streets.''
So the definitions of crimes have changed. If I was to tell you I had a knife, and take your wallet, that would now be defined as a knife crime and not a robbery.
Jacqui Smith is not a great Home Secretary, but I am sure she will survive this.