It’s official (if stats are anything to go by): crime levels are plummeting and Greater Manchester is a much safer place to live now than it was ten years ago.
Recorded murders dropped from 225 in 2003 to 42 in 2013, sexual offences fell by 580 and criminal damage and arson plummeted by a staggering 47,228 over the ten year period.
There was an overall reduction of 198,071 recorded crimes since 2003, accprding to figures from the Office for National Statistics.
The huge drop in recorded crimes comes despite the same period seeing population soaring by 200,148.
Other incredible improvements include the fall in domestic burglary, from 42,396 incidents in 2003 to 15,295 in 2013, and recorded occurrences of violence with injury decreasing by 15,512 in ten years.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester Tony Lloyd said: “It’s good news for the communities of Greater Manchester that crime continues to fall.
“This is thanks to the commitment of GMP officers and staff and the unique partnership model we have in Greater Manchester of local people working with the police and other agencies to build safer communities.
“But we need to remember that behind the statistics are real victims. A drop in crime will be no comfort to the family that have just been burgled or the elderly lady who’s just been robbed, which is why we need to make sure the needs of victims are at the centre of everything we do.”
Despite the impressive overall reduction in criminal activity, however, statistics released by the Home Office for the 12-month period between July 1 2012 and June 30 2013 show that sexual offences have increased by 15% and thefts from people in public have gone up by 17%.
Deputy Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “These figures demonstrate that victims of sexual offences are continuing to have more confidence in coming to the police, which is a positive thing.
“The rise also coincides with the introduction of dedicated units investigating serious sexual offences in June 2012, bringing about more consistent crime recording practices across the force.”
There are also other significant factors to take into account, such as the historic cases involving celebrity sexual offenders.
Mr Lloyd said: “The increase in sexual offences suggests that the horrific cases of sexual abuse involving Jimmy Savile and other high-profile individuals has encouraged more victims to come forward to report abuse.
“Greater Manchester Police has improved the way it deals with these horrific crimes and has a team of specialised officers dedicated to investigating them.
“These victims have made a brave first step, and we need to make sure they are at the heart of what we do and are supported throughout the criminal justice process.”
According to GMP, the increase in theft offences particular relates to mobile phones.
Last year more than 5,000 phones were stolen, adding up to a value of more than £1.9million, highlighting that, as smart phones become ever more popular to consumers, thieves are also targeting these valuable possessions.
To respond to this worrying increase the Operation Network has been launched by GMP. This measure aims to proactively target mobile phone criminality using a co-ordinated approach to oversee the prevention of this crime.
Deputy Chief Constable Hopkins said: “Although it may seem like low level criminality, this is certainly not the case. Organised crime groups are becoming increasingly involved in the theft of mobile phones as this funds further criminal activity.
“Offenders are working solo or in gangs and there is intelligence to suggest that stolen phones are being exported abroad, where they are worth a lot more than in the UK.”
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