Huge increase in serious violent crime

Chief Superintendent John O'Hare

The number of serious violent crimes in Rochdale is up by 25% on last year, while between July and September 2009, there was an increase of 60% in comparison with 2008; the highest figure in the North West.

The shock figures have forced the Police and the Council into action to reduce violence in the town.

Community Safety and Leisure Portfolio holder, Ted Flynn said: “There will be weekly meetings to address this problem and we will also be working with the night time economy in the town centre because a number of these crimes are happening at night.”

Weekly meetings, led by Superintendent Martin Greenhalgh of Greater Manchester Police, started on Monday (4 January) in a bid to reduce the figures.

The leader of Rochdale's Labour group, Councillor Colin Lambert said: “Part of the policing pledge is to respond to local needs, this is clearly a need way above other national targets and locally we need the freedom to work with the police and make this our number one target. Of course we will demand focus of additional resources.”

Councillor Ashley Dearnley has called for changes, he said: “It is very worrying and we must be lobbying Greater Manchester Police for more resources in light of this very worrying trend.”

Chief Superintendent John O'Hare explained that the police in Rochdale are working hard to tackle this problem. He said: “All other areas of crime are reducing, the only area it hasn’t is serious violent crime.

“Part of the reason for this is in April the definition of serious violent crime was changed and it now includes domestic violence. This isn’t something that is just affecting Rochdale, we are comparable with neighbouring towns in terms of volume across Greater Manchester.”

Chief Superintendent O'Hare explained that serious violent crimes can very often be alcohol related and a number of incidents are between people that already know each other, such as domestic violence cases. He said: “We work closely with all licensed premises in the town centre to ensure that people have a safe night out.

“Within Greater Manchester the Rochdale Division is the best for detecting serious violent crime, by providing the best care to victims and tackling offenders immediately.

“I am totally committed to tackling violent crime; it is a priority in this quarter for ourselves.”

Chief Superintendent O'Hare has recently became chairman of the Rochdale Safer Communities Partnership, which is working to look at the underlying causes of serious violent crime in the borough. “We need a solution for the long term problem and this will come through crucial partnership work within health, education and employment,” he said.