GMP drives down crime

Date article online: 24/04/2008

Greater Manchester Police has continued to drive down crime with 32,744 fewer victims in the past 12 months.

According to the latest figures released to Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) on Friday (April 18) total crime up to the end of March 2008 is down 9.8 per cent.

The statistics for 2007/8 also show:

Domestic burglary down 11.1 per cent, which is 2,699 fewer victims
Robbery down 9.4 per cent, 799 fewer victims
Vehicle crime down 19.1 per cent, 10,377 fewer victims
Violent crime down 9.1 per cent, 3,138 fewer victims
An increase of 4.4 per cent in the number of offenders brought to justice
Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: "I am delighted that we have been able to make Greater Manchester safer. The results of the past year have only been possible with the hard work and dedication of everyone in GMP and with the support of our partner agencies.

"We are committed to driving crime down even further and to making a difference to neighbourhoods across Greater Manchester. There is still work to do and we have further challenging targets for the next year.

"But the achievements of the past 12 months are something I am proud of and know that with partners and the support of local people we can build on."

The performance figures for priorities in the GMPA Annual Policing Plan also show that there were 31 fewer cash in transit robberies, 24 more firearms discharges and 8 more robberies of financial institutions.

ACC Thompson said he was pleased with an increase in the detection rate to 25.3 per cent. He added: "It is encouraging that there have been fewer crimes but more of them are being detected."

Full details of all crime statistics are being collated and will be published in the summer.