Crime figures give wrong picture says Chief Superintendent

Detective Chief Superintendent John Kelly said crime figures published yesterday today, showing a 60 percent rise in violent crime in the six months to September gave the wrong picture.

He said new counting rules were to blame for the rises.

"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,'' said DCS Kelly.

"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.''

A four per cent fall in overall crime has resulted in 36,523 offences being logged for the last six months compared to 38,056 for the corresponding period last year.

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

He went onto say a rise in detection rates was responsible for a 40 per cent reduction in robberies in Middlesbrough and a 25 percent fall in house burglaries, contributing to an overall 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 percent drop in car crime and 16 per cent reduction in robberies.

There has been a 76 per cent rise in robberies in Hartlepool when 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.

Mr Kelly said home owners could do a lot to help themselves: "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.''