More police recruits

He stressed that the overall crime figure had been falling since Labour came to power and that certain offences, such as car thefts, had been reduced.

He also pointed out that police recruitment had increased by a substantial 74% this month - the suggestion being that he is finally getting to grips with the situation and that more police officers will soon be available to tackle street crime.

But Mr Straw knows that when the official election campaign finally gets under way it is the crime figures which will be thrown in his face by the opposition parties.

And a huge increase in violent crime is a powerful weapon to hand to the Tories, who are desperate to win back their old tag as the natural party of law and order.

Damage limitation

Mr Straw knew these figures were coming and did his best to limit the damage earlier in the month by announcing a package of measures, dominated by his plans to tackle mobile phone thefts.

He also attempted to meet voters' demands for more bobbies on the beat by insisting that more were now joining the police force than leaving it.

Critics, led by shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe, immediately dismissed the claims, saying that more police officers were leaving than joining.

Widdecombe: Police figures misleading

And some suggested that the decision to announce the police recruitment figures on the same day as the crime statistics was a deliberate attempt to overshadow bad news.

It has also been noted that the government's new "anti-yob" bill - which also promises measures to tackle violence and street crime - is to be published at the end of the week.

But finally, like many political issues, this is all about perception.

Latest opinion polls suggest that, whatever the statistics may say, most voters believe Labour has failed to tackle crime or put more bobbies on the beat.

And this is Mr Straw's greatest problem. He is fighting an uphill battle in persuading people that he really has been "tough on crime".

Many Labour MPs also fear there is still a tendency among voters to trust the Tories more on law and order issues.

What is certain is that William Hague will press home his perceived advantage on crime and that, along with the economy and Europe, it will become one of the big issues in the general election..