Crime rise concern

TONY on tour . . . Tony Lloyd with PC Paul Rainsford and local florist Dale Robinson

Recorded crime rose by eight per cent in Greater Manchester in 2014.

Statistics reflect a “worrying” trend identified by Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd nearly 18 months ago.

Mr Lloyd said: “In Greater Manchester we have witnessed an about-face in levels of crime — in October, 2013 crime was falling. But by April 2014, crime started to rise and began a worrying trend that is continuing today. Despite demand, Greater Manchester Police has seen its officer numbers decimated by a swathe of government cuts.”

In 2010 Greater Manchester Police had just over 8,000 officers, but by this year the number had dropped to just under 6,500. Hundreds more are expected to go.

Mr Lloyd added: “Whoever is elected in May, I implore them to rethink these cuts and invest in the safety and wellbeing of our neighbourhoods.”

Within the overall eight per cent, violent crimes jumped 35 per cent and sexual offences by 42 per cent.

Better recording covers some of the increase, but Mr Lloyd added: “The bulk of these increases come down to one stark fact — crime is on the rise.”



::Tony Lloyd visited a number of Oldham-based projects yesterday.

He began by dropping in at the New Horizons Project at Voluntary Action, which supports former offenders, then toured the town centre before visiting Crossley Community Centre in Chadderton where he discussed policing issues.

The day ended with a visit to Mills Hill Primary School and an “Actions have Consequences” workshop — which shows pupils crime doesn’t pay