Crime at 12-year low, say police
Crime has hit a 12-year low in Northern Ireland, police have said
Crime has hit a 12-year low in Northern Ireland, police have said.
The number of reported incidents since last October has fallen by a fifth. Violence causing injury, theft and criminal damage are all down.
Chief Constable Matt Baggott said: "While this reduction is to be welcomed, we are not complacent.
"It is our aim to ensure that we have the right number of police officers on our streets, in our communities and neighbourhoods to ensure that we continue to make a real difference."
Reported crime across Northern Ireland has fallen each consecutive month from October 2009 to January 2010, down from 9,626 to 7,742, a decrease of 1,884 crimes (a fall of 19.6%).
The December 2009 total was the second lowest monthly figure.
Mr Baggott added: "Behind every crime statistic, and indeed every interaction with the police, is a personal story. By focusing on that personal story, by dealing with it in a professional and protective manner, I know we can make a real difference.
"We still have much to do, our efforts will be focused on listening to communities, identifying local issues of concern and working together to solve them."
Robbery is up 28%. Violence with injury is down 20%, theft down 22% and criminal damage down 30%.
Mr Baggott added: "We will protect our communities by working to reduce serious harm, delivering real results - taking drugs off our streets, reducing road deaths, dealing with alcohol-related crime and working with communities to disrupt terrorist activity."
