Crime has plummeted again in Rochdale with figures set to show an end of year drop for the third year running.
The total number of crimes recorded between October 2010 and September 2011 has dropped by 11 per cent from 13,270 to 11,840.
This includes all major areas such as serious violent crime, robbery, burglary and vehicle crime with the results suggesting that the final figures released in April will show an even greater reduction.
Burglary, which was the division’s number one priority for last year, saw the biggest result with break-ins dropping from 1,126 to 1,082 creating a reduction of 44pc.
The result was achieved through the launch of Operation Ulysses, which began in January aimed at targeting prolific burglars and capping the rise in household thefts.
In March a ‘week of reckoning’ was held across Rochdale with officers raiding the homes of suspected thieves who give a ‘two finger salute’ to the justice system.
This was followed in August by the launch of a dedicated burglary response car specifically to attend break-ins.
Officers using the car were given additional training on investigating burglary, with the vehicle fitted with crime-scene preservation kits and home security packs which can be given to victims and their immediate neighbours.
In addition, the team manning the car made regular checks at the homes of target suspects to act as a deterrent from future crimes.
Police also attended public events throughout the year to provide residents with advice on how to secure homes against opportunist thieves.
Chief Superintendent John O’Hare welcomed the news, saying: "It is really pleasing to see that crime has reduced across Rochdale.
"We always focus on those crimes that cause the most pain in communities, so I’m particularly pleased to see fewer victims of crimes such as burglary."
Serious violent crime dropped from 159 to 95 incidents, with vehicle crime dropping from 1,527 reports to 1,051 and robbery down from 202 to 196.
Mr O’Hare added: "We will carry on working closely with key agencies and Rochdale council, as our joined-up, intelligence-led targeting of criminals is having a real impact on crime.
"We will continue to drive down crime and reduce antisocial behaviour, and protect those who can’t protect themselves."
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Don't sucked in to the hype.
Many crimes, such as burglaries, are never reported as people do not trust the police.
If ever investigated, all the police give is a crime number, and victims' house premiums skyrocket.
Investigation of burgularies in Greater Manchester, and this includes Rochdale, is a pipedream!
"Burglary, which was the division’s number one priority for last year, saw the biggest result with break-ins dropping from 1,126 to 1,082 creating a reduction of 44pc" I make that more like 4%. R. Marcus is right it is the hype what seems to be the priority here. What affects good citizens is not crime, but the fear of crime. People are still scared and rightly so.
As the owner of a vehicle rental company in Rochdale, I have been the victim of scores of minor crimes in the last 12 months that we haven`t even bothered to report, due mainly to apathy from previous occasions where reported crimes were either treated as too minor to even warrant a visit, or when treated seriously, too difficult to solve.
All the police seem interested in doing is creating paperwork and giving crime reference numbers. Policing and crime solving.........a thing of the past.