Fresh bid to help offenders

GREATER Manchester Police are watching more than 1,000 known criminals, new figures show.

According to Home Office information there are 1,004 prolific and priority offenders (PPOs) known to the force. And it is believed many have drug problems and commit crime to fuel their habit.

In 2004 the PPO programme — an initiative to tackle this group of offenders — was launched.

Its main aims are to catch and convict offenders who commit most crime in the area, to rehabilitate and resettle the PPOs, and to prevent and deter by offering help to get lives back on track.

The latest figures for Greater Manchester show the number of PPOs have increased from 737 in 2005, rising to 840 in 2006 to the current 1,004.

Senior officers say persistent offenders account for a high proportion of the crime in Greater Manchester and their activities are closely monitored.

Supt David Wilkinson said: “We work closely with our partners to help repeat offenders find employment, get off drugs and break away from criminal associates so that they can turn their back on crime.”

Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve, said: “The increase in serious offenders is alarming and betrays the Government’s failure to tackle crime and its causes.”