Crime drops 10% — but knife attacks up

CRIME in Oldham has dropped by 10 per cent over the past year thanks to a number of successful police operations and initiatives.

Vehicle crime is down 17 per cent — from 4,058 incidents in 2006/7 to 3,372 in 2007/8 — and robbery has been slashed by 12 per cent.

Violent crime has dropped by 11 per cent — from 2,353 to 2,660 — and burglary is down by 10 per cent from 2,338 in 2006/7 to 2,109 in 2007/8.

Across Greater Manchester, total crime is also down 10 per cent in 2008 with 34,588 fewer victims than in 2007.

Included in the total were 50,287 cases of violence against a person (a 12 per cent fall on the previous year) and 3,014 sexual offences (down 4 per cent). Drug offences rose by 12 per cent to 11,790.

Vehicle crime has been slashed by more than a fifth and criminal damage has been reduced by 16 per cent.

Violent crime is down by 12 per cent and burglary and robbery have been cut by 9 per cent each.

But it’s not all good news — the figures reveal that GMP officers dealt with more than 2,000 cases of serious knife crime last year — more than six a day.

There were 2,294 serious offences involving a knife, of which 20 were attempted murder, 600 wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and 315 for wounding without intent.

A further 373 robberies of businesses involved a knife and 989 people were robbed at knifepoint. A detailed picture of the true extent of violence involving blades — revealed for the first time — puts the number of knife crimes in Greater Manchester as third highest in the country, behind 7,409 in London and 2,303 in the West Midlands.

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: “I am pleased with the continued reductions in crime that we have achieved despite the challenges we have faced. It builds on the successes in cutting crime during the last five years.

“We know there will be even greater challenges ahead but we are committed to continuing to make the communities of Greater Manchester safer.

“Our focus on neighbourhood policing and involving people in policing their area will make a difference.

“This is a significant improvement which means more criminals are being brought to justice but we know we need to do more with the support of our communities.

Local information about crime can now be accessed at www.gmp.police.uk.

ACC Thompson added: “I hope people will be able to use the new facility to find crime information through the website to help us to fight crime in Greater Manchester.”