Oldham falls down crime league

Business crime in Oldham has fallen by 13 per cent in the past year — though the borough remains in the top 10 worst-hit areas.

Insurance company AXA’s annual index monitors levels of crime — including theft, arson, malicious damage and deception — committed against UK businesses.

Oldham was fifth in the list this year, down from third in 2011/12 when it suffered a 26 per cent rise.

So far this year Oldham businesses have been hit by relatively high levels of arson compared with other areas of the UK.

Douglas Barnett, head of customer risk management at AXA, said: “These figures are extremely encouraging for the business community as a whole.”