Northumbria Police

News Release

Overall crime is down again

Dated: 17 Apr 2007

Northumbria Police has recorded another year of overall crime reduction, continuing the downward trend which has seen a steady fall in crime since 1991. Detections are also at their highest.

Nearly 3,000 fewer offences were recorded in the year up to the end of March 2007 - down to 129,070 from 131,968. This represents a 2.2% fall in overall crime, including house burglary, criminal damage and vehicle crime. Added to this, nearly 6,000 more offences were detected, a rise of 12.8% over the previous year. The detection rate now stands at 40%, a rise of 5% over the previous year.

The figures show that house burglaries have dropped from 6,560 to 6,336 (- 3.4%), vehicle crime is down from 15,594 to 13,228 (- 15.2%) and offences of criminal damage are down to 36,087 from 36,911 (- 2.2%).

Offences of robbery and sex offences have also fallen.

Chief Constable Mike Craik said: " The continuing reduction in overall crime is a significant achievement for our force, made possible by the hard work, dedication and commitment to the Total Policing philosophy of everyone who works for Northumbria Police - officers, special constables, support officers and police staff.

" I must also thank members of the public and local communities, whose invaluable support and assistance is another key factor in our continuing ability to reduce overall crime.

" However, there is no room for complacency with these results. We have seen an increase in crimes of violence, partly due to the tough stand we've taken against anti-social behaviour in public. We are refusing to tolerate anti-social behaviour in public so our officers are arresting more and more people for this.

" I can promise that this will continue - one of our primary focuses for the coming year will be tackle the problems associated with violent crime and anti-social behaviour." 

Crimes of violence, which include public order offences, show an overall rise from 24,496 to 26,627 (8.7%). Nearly half of this is due to officers interpreting rowdy or threatening behaviour as a public order offence, rather than a non-criminal interpretation. Up to February this year, there was a 27% increase in the number of arrests for violent crime, up from 16,143 to 20,516.

In comparison with similar forces across the country, Northumbria Police has the lowest levels of reported violent crime per 1,000 population, and is one of the most successful in the country for detecting offences of violence and tackling violent crime.

Mr Craik added: " This rise in violent offences is also indicative of our changing society. Developments such as 24-hour licensing mean there are more opportunities for people to carry drinking well into the night, creating more potential for disorder and crimes of violence.

" As a responsive police service we are continually seeking ways to meet these different demands. For instance, the current full review of our shift system is being done so that we are in a better position to have the right number of officers available at times of peak demand.

" However, it should also be said that this year's figures show fewer people have had their homes burgled and vehicle crime is plummeting.

" People in Northumberland and Tyne and Wear should feel more secure about their property and, because we're making more arrests for public disorder, we're also making the region's streets safer."

In most categories of crime the force has exceeded targets for crime reduction.

Recent forcewide campaigns, including End the Silence which tackled domestic abuse and Operation Payback, which aims to stop dysfunctional role models profiting from drugs and other crime, are part of Northumbria's commitment to improving the quality of life for people in the region. The latest campaign - 'Together we can combat crime' -  aims to cut criminal damage.

These initiatives are being strengthened by the development of Citizen Focus, putting an improved service to the public at the core of all policing activity.