Introduction
The reporting of issues of risk, such as health scares and crime, can have an impact on the public perception of that risk.
We should report statistics and risks in context, taking care not to worry the audience unduly. It may also be appropriate to report the margin of error and the source of figures to enable people to judge their significance. This may involve giving trends, taking care to avoid giving figures more weight than can stand scrutiny.
Our reporting of crime and anti-social behaviour must not add to people's fears of becoming victims of crime when statistically they are very unlikely to be so.