"More justice for victims" as crime falls across the region, says GMP

Police are tackling crime across Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) says that crime rates have significantly declined across Greater Manchester over the last year, with a 17% reduction in neighbourhood crime and an 8% overall drop.

GMP credits its proactive, community-focused approach for these improvements, leading to thousands fewer crimes and more justice for victims.

It says that the 'back to basics' strategy, initiated by chief constable Stephen Watson, has been essential in delivering these results and that the approach has been pivotal in marking significant improvements such as solving more crimes and getting more justice for victims.

The focus remains on continuous improvement and collaboration with local partners to solve issues sustainably within the community.

Neighbourhood crime has dropped across all categories in the past year, including a 26% fall in theft from person, a 19% drop in vehicle offences, a 12% reduction in robberies, and a 10% decrease in burglaries.

An intensified, multi-agency effort on knife crime has also proven effective, with hospital admissions resulting from knife-related incidents down by a quarter.

In line with GMP's 2021 commitment to attend every household burglary, arrests for burglary have increased by 15.5%, and there are now hundreds fewer victims of burglary each month than three years ago.

More crimes are being solved, with around 10,000 more victims receiving justice compared to three years prior. The force has earned national recognition as the only police force to improve its investigative standards in the past year.

The focus on victim support has resulted in significant improvements, with 1,500 more domestic abuse cases solved compared to three years ago and 3,500 more shoplifting offences cleared than in the year leading up to March 2021. Additionally, victim satisfaction has reached 64%, a figure GMP says it is determined to increase further.

The police force's ability to respond swiftly and effectively has also advanced, with call response times now averaging just seconds, and officers arriving at incidents within minutes.

The force has commended the dedication of its officers and staff, acknowledging the contributions of those on the front line and behind the scenes.