There was also a 1% increase in robberies, but a 2% fall in recorded sexual offences and there was no change in the level of violent crime recorded.

BBC: Gwent Police 15% crime drop biggest in England and Wales

But even today the level of violent crime in America is still about the same as in the mid-1980s, when 1m fewer people were in prison or jail.

ECONOMIST: Prisoners

By 1993, the violent crime rate was more than four and a half times the level of 1960.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down