Crime continues to fall

Latest figures show that in the last six months between April 2012 and September 2012 there was a 12.4% reduction in crime (compared with the same period the previous year), meaning 13,215 fewer victims across Greater Manchester.

Reductions have been seen in all stealing offences - including burglary, robbery and car theft - as well as drugs offences, hate crime and domestic abuse.

Figures for April 2012 to September 2012 show:

• Domestic burglary down by six per cent with 454 fewer victims. 
• None domestic burglary down 16.1% with 1,244 fewer victims. 
• Robbery down by 8.7 per cent with 178 fewer victims. 
• Shoplifting down 5.6% with 414 fewer victims. 
• Other stealing offences down 18.2% with 3,400 fewer victims. 
• Vehicle crime down by 10.2 per cent with 1,124 fewer victims. 
• Serious violent crime down by 5.7 per cent with 490 fewer victims. 
• Hate Crime down by 2.7% with 49 fewer victims. 
• Drugs offences down by 16.3% with 934 fewer victims. 
• Criminal damage and arson down by 17.3% with 3,200 fewer victims. 
• Fraud and forgery down by 25.3% with 1,023 fewer victims. 
• Domestic abuse down by 2.9% with 226 fewer victims. 
• There was a 1.1% increase in violent incidents without injury. 
• The number of sexual offences increased by 3.3%.

Significant sentences have been handed down by the courts during the six month period following investigations by detectives from the Serious Crime Division.

In July Anthony and Joseph Jenkins were sentenced to 30 and 32 years in prison respectively for the murder of John Grainger and Kiaran Stapleton was jailed for 30 years for the murder of Anuj Bidve.

In August Mark Royle was sentenced to 28 years for murdering Nellie Geraghty and in September Ian Lowe was ordered to serve a minimum of 28 years for the murder of Leanne McNuff.

Ten men who committed sex offences against children in Rochdale were collectively sentenced to more than 80 years in prison.