A SENIOR detective has said that a North-East police force is making inroads against town centre violence and disorder, despite figures which suggest a rise in violent crime.

Cleveland Police crime manager Detective Chief Superintendent John Kelly said the figures, showing a 60 per cent rise in violent crime in the six months to September, gave the wrong picture.

He said new counting rules were to blame, adding: "The category includes a lot more crime than it used to encompass, offences which were not recorded before.

"It might seem we have had a massive rise in violent crime, when we have had success in controlling town centre violence and disorder.

"The good news for people in the area is that, in the long term, crime is going down.

"There are 1,533 fewer victims in Cleveland than there were at this time last year. House burglary is down, car crime is down and robbery is down.''

The figures published yesterday showed a four per cent fall in overall crime has resulted in 36,523 offences being logged for the past six months, compared to 38,056 for the same period last year.

He said force-wide pressure had paid off with an almost 15 per cent fall in house break-ins, with known criminals targeted.

Det Chief Supt Kelly said a rise in detection rates was responsible for a 40 per cent cut in robberies in Middlesbrough and a 25 per cent fall in house burglaries, contributing to an 18 per cent reduction in crime across the town.

In Stockton, overall crime is up by 4.8 per cent despite a 25 per cent fall in house burglaries, a 21 per cent drop in car crime and a 16 per cent reduction in robberies.

There has been a 76 per cent rise in robberies in Hartlepool, where overall crime is up 20 per cent.

In the Langbaurgh division, house burglaries are up 54 per cent, car crime up 110 per cent and robberies have doubled.

Det Chief Supt Kelly said homeowners could do a lot to help themselves, adding: "Winter is fast approaching and the dark nights always see a rise in break-ins, particularly in sheds and garages. People should be aware of that and act accordingly.''