Winning the crime war

David Ottewell

April 23, 2008

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CRIME has been slashed by 10 per cent in Greater Manchester in just one year.

There were 301,032 offences in the year to March - compared to 333,776 the previous year.

Serious violent crime was down 14.6 per cent, burglaries 11.1 per cent and robberies 9.4 per cent.

The dramatic improvements were achieved almost entirely while Greater Manchester Police was under the control of Michael Todd (pictured).

The troubled chief constable was found dead on a Welsh mountain on March 11 after colleagues expressed fears about his apparent depression.

But the figures - seen only by a handful of police chiefs and published widely for the first time today - prove he had continued to slash crime since taking over in 2002. GMP met 11 of its 16 key targets.

A total of 21,686 burglaries were recorded, down from 24,385 the previous year. GMP put this down largely to an awareness campaign, called Lock Up, Keep 'Em Out.

Reflected

The number of robberies dropped to 7,471 from 8,250. Police said that reflected increased used of automated number-plate recognition, `hotspot' patrols, and Operation Tomahawk, which targeted offenders and shops used to trade stolen goods.

Serious violent crimes fell from 1,831 to 1,563, while less serious violence against the person was down 9.1 per cent, from 34,616 to 31,478. Only south Manchester and Wigan saw rises.

The five targets missed included a bid to cut firearm discharges from 120 to 114. There were 144 shots fired. Robberies aimed at financial institutions were also up, from 58 to 66. While detection rates for hate crime, rapes and robbery went up, it was slower than targets police set.

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thompson said the figures were a `fitting legacy' to Mr Todd's leadership. "There are big reductions in crime but also we have very big improvements in detection rates.

"Since he became chief, burglaries have nearly halved. This year is a fitting legacy to him."

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Pravda (23/04/2008 at 07:30)

Once again a misleading headline. Reported crime may be down but there is an difference between this and actual crime. We can all make statistics work for us if we wish!

Mark Spencer, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire. (23/04/2008 at 08:07)

Any idea why there is a picture of a policeman with the article? They have little effect in stopping crime. That people do not offend is down to them and other factors rather than a policing issue. When you read that some young thug has been iterview by the police scores of times and was out on bail when they killed in the case of Mr Newlove, then you realise that the police are virtually powerless to prevent crime.

Leo B (23/04/2008 at 09:26)

Excellent news - if the figures are accurate, and truly reflect the everyday reality. Are they weighted to reflect incidents which aren't reported, I wonder? And are the Courts supporting the success of the Police - or are they handing out suspended sentences like sweeties? I would have been interested to read much more about detection and conviction rates - as well as a little more on the areas where the numbers of crimes reported are rising. Lies, damned lies, and statistics?

Nell B, Manchester (23/04/2008 at 09:27)

His public life was a tribute to him and his leadership. God rest his soul. His private life is just that private. I never met him but feel very sad about his death.

Mike S, Manchester (23/04/2008 at 09:44)

The figures don't show that people have stopped reporting all but the most serious crimes, because the police do nothing about them.

I've been the victim of crime twice in the past 12 months (thankfully minor) but didn't bother reporting them because the last time I did I called a week later to ask why no-one had come out and was told "oh, we only thought you wanted a crime number for your insurance".

Thanks GMP, I feel so safe walking the streets!

Fireball XL5 (23/04/2008 at 09:50)

Figures mean nothing if you live in Wigan or South Manchester where violent crime has risen.

Come-On-City. Manchester, formerly of Brooklyn. (23/04/2008 at 10:45)

Funny how people never believe crime statistics, but the statistics about immigrants a few weeks ago was jumped upon by many as absolute truth!

I guess people have made their minds up before they even see facts, therefore no evidence will ever get them to change their mind.

Le Comte de Bobelesque, formerly a frog (23/04/2008 at 10:49)

"CRIME has been slashed by 10 per cent in Greater Manchester in just one year"

Should have read:

"Reporting of CRIME has been slashed by 10 per cent in Greater Manchester in just one year".

Victor Meldrew's Codpiece (23/04/2008 at 10:50)

Yawn! And i also believe you really can't taste the difference between margarine and horse manure!

markyboy (23/04/2008 at 11:08)

do these figureds include the number of ofences committed by serving GMP officers?, i only ask as all i see is more stories in this paper regarding them, or am i being mioisled.
statistics can be used in all manner of ways to in a debate whether they are for or against.

Charles Light (23/04/2008 at 11:08)

Absolute and utter garbage. Fixing the figures that's all GMP has done over the last 5 years.

Octavius Tinsworth Ace (23/04/2008 at 11:15)

Comparison of any statistics over time can only reasonably done using numbers of reported crimes, not ones that might have happened. If it's easy to lie with statistics, it's surely even easier with weighted ones that aren't based on concrete evidence.

I'm staggered that a report that crime figures under the recently-deceased chief constable Michael Todd fell by 10% in just one year could provoke such a glut of negative comments. It is, at the very least, a step in the right direction.

Steve M (23/04/2008 at 11:33)

I take the crime figures with a huge pinch of salt. For one - lots of people are no longer bothering to report crime. You can tell this by looking at the British Crime Survey, which includes unreported crime. The figures from that show almost a complete opposite from the picture painted by the police.

Secondly, the police get bonus funding for bringing down crime - so is it any wonder that their own figures show crime falling?

Sorry GMP - your figures not to be believed.

ace, manchester (23/04/2008 at 11:57)

SPIN,SPIN And yet more spin.Its voting time soon??
Reported Crime not actual crime...There is a difference,I saw at least twenty crimes yesterday all not reported yesterday.driving without due care,using a phone while driving,speeding,to name just a few..GET THE IDEA.?Now id we had enough police we could cut those crimes down ..How many crimes did you see yesterday..

Mark,Radcliffe. (23/04/2008 at 12:08)

A 10% decrease in crime, great job GMP.The fact remains there were 301,032 "Reported" offences...Sadly Mr Thompson sees a big reduction in crime as being anywhere between 14.6% and 9.4% in various areas..when the overall crime figure is too high to begin with.To me thats just not good enough.A statistician could probably create the same percentage decrease by merely re-classifying crimes and manipulating recording methods.

S P In exile, Tameside (23/04/2008 at 12:23)

Are these figures real crime figures and not manipulated to suit the need, we all know that figures can be massaged like this and the last government did and do so regularly.
The figures using the ones the MEN has printed 62,466 crimes were detected leaving 238566 for other crimes are these other crimes motoring, littering etc if this is so why is the GMP being proud of what is mainly petty crimes recorded. This leaves a big gap between serious and petty crime therefore GMP should make a more concerted effort to detect serious crime.

Come-On-City. Manchester, formerly of Brooklyn. (23/04/2008 at 17:37)

Steve M

You are wrong. The British crime survey that includes non-reported crime also shows that crime has reduced in lots of areas and has overall largely stayed the same since the 70's.

I guess therefore you will now not believe the BCS.

Pravda (23/04/2008 at 18:22)

Octavius Tinsworth Ace
The negative comments are due to some of us knowing the truth and not believing everything you read. I bet you still believe in the tooth fairy don't you?

Mark,Radcliffe. (23/04/2008 at 19:28)

Mssrs Steve M and C-O-C,please focus on the information as given by GMP..Their Senior Management use "their" statistics..its how they should be judged.Do not cloud the issue...Its their figures,and their figures are disgraceful.Ask any victim,after all potentially there are 301,032.

Steve M (23/04/2008 at 20:58)

Come-on-city said: "You are wrong. The British crime survey that includes non-reported crime also shows that crime has reduced in lots of areas and has overall largely stayed the same since the 70's.

I guess therefore you will now not believe the BCS."

For everyone else's benefit - make your own mind up by viewing last year's figures for Greater Manchester from the BCS (needless to say - it doesn't back up the 10% reduction claimed by the police):

Overall crime: +1%
Violence against the person +8%
Sexual offences -6%
Robbery +6%
Burglary -4%
Offences against vehicles 1%
Other theft offences: 0%
Fraud and forgery: -19%
Criminal damage: +3%
Drug offences: +19%
Other offences: -7%

Saint, Middleton (23/04/2008 at 22:32)

This dosn't cover internet crime, credit card fraud and cloning, prostitution, tax evasion (a biggy), theft and defrauding from the workplace. I understand that I.D theft isn't a breach of law, therefor they can claim benifits with false documents all over the country, they don't need to resort to crime, they live happily on a grand a week.

I also think that with all the crime gangs that have formed together, it is now impossible to have a police car pull up outside your house to see to your problems.

They really havn't got a clue.

David,North M/C (23/04/2008 at 23:08)

LEFT WING, LIBERAL, PROPAGANDA ,LIES ON AN ORWELL 1984 STYLE SCALE.

alvinlwh (24/04/2008 at 09:35)

Of course crime are falling, they do not even turn up when I reported a break in in progress and have to fight off the invader myself!And they have the nerves to call me up 2 hours later to ask me if I still need them! I told them, after 2 hours, if there is still invader here, either he or me will be dead! So I guess that is one crime that do not make its way into the numbers. These days I just keep a range of items that are useful as a 'tool' to protect myself instead of relying on the police.

jomov, Manchester (24/04/2008 at 10:48)

What a load of garbage...

Proud Mancunian (24/04/2008 at 12:03)

Crime may be down but suicide rates are higher!

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