Crime down 26 per cent in a year

Oldham Town Centre Partnership

NEW figures show that crime has plummeted in the town centre.

Comparing the past month (mid-March to mid-April) with the same period last year shows crime down from 508 incidents to 376 — a fall of 132.

Criminal damage dropped by 30, shoplifting by 33 and assaults and harassment by 48.

Comparing the past month to the previous one (mid-February to mid-March), crime fell from 156 to 105 — down by 51 incidents, including shoplifting falling 17, assaults and harassment down by 17 and burglary down by 13.

But thefts from vehicles was up by eight to 19 after 11 crimes were committed in one day at the multi-storey car parks in Spindles and Hobson Street. Security had worked quickly to get CCTV footage of the incidents.

Deception and fraud cases had also increased (by eight to 18) because of a spate of forged money, for which someone has been arrested, and incidents of driving off from Sainsbury’s filling station without paying for fuel.

Police said the temporary closure of the Old Mess House pub, after violence there and a death outside, had improved the atmosphere on Yorkshire Street and reduced crime.

A request had also been made for knife arches to return to the town centre after the public said they made them feel safer.

Town centre manager Mark Lester said the success of a daytime exclusion scheme, in which 50 known shoplifters were banned from shops, resulted in a dramatic reduction in crime.