ABOUT 1,000 hard-core criminals are believed to be behind half the 300,000-plus crimes reported in Greater Manchester last year.
Police say between 950 and 1,000 villains are responsible for what equates to 150 crimes each in the area.
The Home Office says so-called `prolific and priority' offenders are behind half the nation's crime.
It means Greater Manchester's most hardened criminals are believed to be responsible for in excess of 150,000 of the 301,032 crimes reported here last year.
Force bosses said they were focused on bringing them to justice.
Greater Manchester Police have set up special squads in all its divisions which are dedicated to tackling the most prolific criminals.
With the help of probation workers, they have adopted a series of tactics to stop them committing more crime.
Measures
The measures are aimed at putting criminals back behind bars if they continue to offend and helping those who want to leave behind a life of crime.
Those people will be offered help getting off drugs and help finding accommodation and work.
Officers video certain prison inmates on release to remind them they are being watched.
Cops follow some villains and visit the most hardened at their homes every week.
Officers also hand-deliver Christmas and birthday cards to known offenders to emphasise they are being watched.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Taylor, of GMP's criminal justice division, said: "We take an intelligence-led approach to dealing with persistent offenders, focusing our attention on individuals actively engaged in criminal activity with a view to bringing them to justice."
A police spokesman said: "They hate it, but it works."
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Cops target hardcore criminals
July 24, 2008
Showing comments 1 to 11 and replies | View All
mylifeinthemafia (24/07/2008 at 07:28)
A level head - you decide (24/07/2008 at 10:36)
That would suffice.
Mark,Radcliffe. (24/07/2008 at 11:10)
dessie, manchester (24/07/2008 at 11:25)
how much money is being spent on xmas cards and such like, i would much rather see a sledgehammer knocking on the door than a bobby with a bloody card!!!!
Mr Angry, Bury (24/07/2008 at 11:50)
ace, manchester (24/07/2008 at 12:27)
Exellent idea,the police know who they are.Infact most law abiding citizens know who they are but nothing ever gets done until its to late.
A concerned member of society (24/07/2008 at 12:53)
Like this is a breakthrough in policing! Does this mean they didn’t target hardcore criminals before?
Mr Angry, Bury (24/07/2008 at 13:06)
To extend it further, nationwide, approximately 150,000 very ppersistent hard core offenders are responsible for roughly 50% of ALL crime. They are useless parasites who contribute nothing and are a drain on the economy and ruin life for the 60 million or so who are law abiding.
You take the worst 15,000 out of that 150,000 and you shoot them. No trial, no appeal, nothing.
The remainder will then be so terrified that they are unlikely to commit any more persistent crime, and would be unable to do so anyway as they would all be in forced labour camps.
This would work, but it wont happen as the vested interests in the EU and legal profession, not to mention the chattering classes who read The Guardian, would be appalled
Hindsight (24/07/2008 at 17:12)
Mark,Radcliffe. (24/07/2008 at 17:27)
Mark,Radcliffe. (24/07/2008 at 17:35)