Crime down in Rochdale

Chief Superintendent John O'Hare.

Overall crime in Rochdale has reduced by 10 per cent in the 12 months to the end of March 2011 compared to the previous year.

This is the fourth biggest reduction in Greater Manchester and equates to 2,177 fewer victims.

The end of year figures also show that other categories have been significantly reduced. Car crime has dropped by 19 per cent with 483 fewer offences and robbery has fallen by 22 per cent, equating to 91 fewer victims.

Violent crimes have also been reduced by 21 per cent, meaning 421 fewer offences.

As well as crime, reports of antisocial behaviour have decreased significantly across the borough by 2,771 – a 16 per cent reduction.

However, there has been an 18 per cent increase in burglary, meaning 300 more offences.

Chief Superintendent John O’Hare of Greater Manchester Police’s Rochdale Division said: “These figures show we are succeeding in tackling the issues that people have told us concern them most. We have achieved these reductions by continually working with partners and local communities, and this hard work is now not only making communities safer, but making them feel safer too.

“The reduction in violent crime is particularly pleasing to see as these offences can have a dramatic and lasting impact on victims and their families.

“Unfortunately there is one crime category where we have seen an increase, and that is burglary. Despite a lot of effort to tackle this problem, there has been an 18 per cent increase with 300 more offences being committed.

“I want to reassure everyone that reducing burglary is our number one priority for the coming year, and I’m pleased to report that we are already seeing signs of this happening with offences showing a downward trend since the beginning of the year.

“People across the borough can be reassured that we won’t be resting on our laurels in the coming months, but will continue to work hard to further bring down crime, make life difficult for criminals and help improve the quality of life for everyone.”

Roger Ellis, Chief Executive of Rochdale Borough Council, added: “Here in Rochdale we have a strong crime reduction partnership committed to working together to protect our communities and reduce crime and disorder across the borough.

“It’s clear that the dedicated partnership working between the police and council, alongside many other local agencies, is having a real impact in making Rochdale borough a safer place. Those areas where crime hasn’t reduced, like burglary for example, I can assure you that in partnership we’ll do whatever it takes to buck the trend.

“I’d like to commend the hard work of everyone involved who has helped us achieve a 10 per cent reduction in the number of recorded crimes meaning that there were significantly fewer victims last year.”