Police hit the target but burglaries on the rise

Greater Manchester Police is on target to achieve results in the main priority areas according to a report to the Greater Manchester Police Authority yesterday (Monday 29 September).

In the report, Chief Constable Peter Fahy outlined the success in tackling gun and knife crime and work to tackle an increase in burglary.

Chief Constable Fahy said: “I am pleased with the reduction in crime and with the success in tackling serious crime but am still concerned with the overall level of crime.

“The number of firearm discharges has been halved and is at the lowest rate since 2004 when we started recording them this way. We have seen considerable success with the work of Xcalibre, which has disrupted gang activity. There is also an increase in the work of the Manchester Multi-Agency Against Gangs work.

“Gun and knife crime still mainly affects young men and thankfully random attacks on the elderly or women in the street are rare and getting rarer.”

The report showed that targets are being achieved in satisfaction with the police service, police response to non-emergency calls, the number of firearm discharges, levels of cash-in-transit robberies, robberies at financial institutions and the value of confiscation orders.

The Force is also on the way to meet the targets for levels of serious acquisitive crimes (which includes burglary, robbery and vehicle crime), serious violent crimes and sanction detection rates.

The report outlined a new initiative to tackle the rise in burglary seen in Greater Manchester, which is also being seen across the country.

Chief Constable Fahy said: "In line with forces across the country, we have been experiencing a rise in burglary. A new operation is being developed that will target the burglars. Our criminal community in Greater Manchester have seen opportunities in burglary. They have seen that many people leave back doors open with valuables lying about and have seen that the best way to steal a car is to take the keys from inside the house. We need the public to make those opportunities more difficult.

“People need to ensure they keep doors and windows locked and keep keys out of sight and away from doors and windows.”

GMP has also seen 612 fewer serious violent crimes and assaults between April and August this year. There has also been significant success in cutting robberies of financial institutions and of cash/valuables in transit.

Chief Constable Fahy added: “It is good to see the developments being made towards reaching the targets but what is more important is the increase in the satisfaction rates that the public have in the service we provide.”

In April to August £616,000 has been seized as part of forfeiture and confiscation orders. Further work is underway on increasing the value of those seizures.

One area identified for further development is improving detection rates for serious violent offences. Performance has been steadily improving with an 8.8 per cent increase, although in the early part of the year it has been off target. Difficulties have been caused by changes in the way violent crime is measured, but the Force is confident it will move forward and reach the target.