Manchester has more prolific offenders than anywhere else in the country, according to the latest government figures.
Police identified 430 offenders in the city centre who committed 749 'proven' crimes over a 12-month period. It is believed they are responsible for thousands more offences.
Greater Manchester Police say the group is behind 'a significant proportion' of crimes, but say they are continually targeting them with intensive policing.
There has been a 29 per cent drop in crimes for the 12 months to the end of March 2009, compared with the previous 12 months, following a concerted police drive to tackle these offenders.
The figures show Manchester had the most 'prolific and other priority offenders' in England and Wales, with only Birmingham coming close with 347.
Greater Manchester had a total of 1,032 prolific and priority offenders – about one in 10 of the 10,771 registered in England and Wales.
GMP has set up special squads in all its divisions 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.
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 who want a new start are offered help getting off drugs, 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. In the past, officers have hand-delivered Christmas and birthday cards to known offenders to emphasise they are being watched.
Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney said: “Our strategy allows each of our divisions to identify prolific offenders according to the crimes that concern their communities the most.
“Therefore, it is difficult to say exactly how much crime prolific offenders are responsible for, but it is a significant proportion.
“We target these offenders with help from our communities, who contact us directly or via the independent charity Crimestoppers.
“Further to that, we work closely with our partners to effectively prosecute them, and facilitate their rehabilitation.
“To facilitate this rehabilitation, we have the 'Spotlight' programme where the integrated offender management work with the probation service, local authorities and the prison to reduce the harm that prolific offenders cause to our community.”
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Stevedore, Quayside (15/03/2010 at 10:15)
This is news? Many of us have known this for years.
Mark,Radcliffe. (15/03/2010 at 10:16)
moaning bugger, reddish (15/03/2010 at 10:29)
PAH , Manchester (15/03/2010 at 10:30)
Esso Blue. Dark Flow/Dark Energy/Dark Matter/ Invisible, Manchester (15/03/2010 at 10:43)
The argument might be that if you supply the user with their fix they would still thieve and live a life of luxury where as if you let them find their own way of getting their fix then they live in squalor making the dealer rich.
Personally I would do trials of giving them the drug on prescription to see if it helps with a decrease in crime. forget methadone thats a waste of time, they drink that in the morning and still want the drug in the afternoon..
You might get a thief who isn't on drugs but wants to put food on the table; if he robs £10000 he might spread that out over the year. If you get a drug user stealing £10000 that could be gone in a week or two.
I have know cocaine users spending £2000 in 24 hours.
BluePurgatory, Manchester (15/03/2010 at 10:46)
Stretford Born and Bred, Stretford (15/03/2010 at 11:41)
ADAZ, manchester (15/03/2010 at 11:43)
dessie, manchester (15/03/2010 at 12:30)
longer prison terms are a starter for criminals, plus i would also have them out with bright coloured bibs cleaning canal paths etc.............. then again you will get the do gooders brigade telling us they shouldnt be wearing bibs it might upset them!!!
Careless Whisper (15/03/2010 at 12:42)
Thanks for removing my last post MEN-but you know it to be true, otherwise you would of not put it on in the first place. like I say I am not Anti Police-but just like any other job. If not done right, then expect negativity.
gillykins, urmston (15/03/2010 at 12:49)
Laetitriumphantes (15/03/2010 at 12:49)
salfordrat (15/03/2010 at 12:52)
PW, Manchester (15/03/2010 at 13:00)
Some of us want to lead honest worthwhile lives where we can actually enjoy the fruits of our long hours and toil, without some low-life scummy parasites feeding off our veins, and making us live under threat all the time. May sound attractive to you, so please be there if they do separate us. The concept is getting more attractive each year.
MPs gravy train, UK (15/03/2010 at 13:01)
This is the same core of people that take most of the social care, a disproportionate amount of health care and most of the state benefit system and cost the majority a fortune. If only I had a magic wand.
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (15/03/2010 at 13:04)
Since David Cameron came out with the "Hug a hoodie" statement a while back, I doubt it's going to change much when they get in power, this year.
Deejay, Bury (15/03/2010 at 14:09)
Blue Dude, Manchester. (15/03/2010 at 14:29)
12 Years in jail or sign up for experimental curative therapy that causes an aversion to crime.
It's a liberal persons nightmare of a movie, still gives me the collywobbles thinking about it. But the choice is simplez...
The judge bangs down the gabble and says mr defendant you have 2 choices 1) Strangeways with the scum for 15 years or 2) 12 months stir followed by Drug Aversion Therapy rendering you incapable of criminal activity followed by immediate release.
Although I do like the "escape from new york model" we could put a 50m high high voltage wired fence all round the Trafford Centre and put all the prisoners in there. Kills 2 birds with one stone then, I never have to visit the place and neither can the missus and all the scum are locked up..
Black Flag (15/03/2010 at 14:48)
That's essentially what was done to Alan Turing, in order to "cure" him of homosexuality, with the drug treatment pushing him to suicide. Anybody who would wish to re-instate that kind of approach today is beneath contempt and should be ostracised by all decent people.
CHARLES EVANS (15/03/2010 at 14:50)
blizzard, Midlands (15/03/2010 at 15:10)
When will people stop blaming the police for the sentences the courts hand out? The police have no control over the "punishments" the Beaks and Judges give out. They get the criminals to court and the police as much as anyone are then let down by the lenient attitudes of the justice system.
Knowall, stretford end (15/03/2010 at 15:41)
And this is merely 4 days after Commandant Lusard (Fahy) declared that crime was in fact dramatically falling in Manchester on BBC Radio Manchester's Beswick programme? You seriously couldn't make it up.
Deejay, Bury
Deejay I would say 29% was a significant drop or didn't you read the story.
BALL AND BAT, ALL OVER (15/03/2010 at 15:56)
Jay B, oldham (15/03/2010 at 16:02)
soft justice system, inproper policing and general morals within the public have produced the mess we call society today!
the future lies in the general election! there is a some hope there!
blizzard, Midlands (15/03/2010 at 16:19)