Crime down 8% in Cheshire (From Warrington Guardian)

Crime down 8% in Cheshire

OVERALL crime is down by eight per cent in Cheshire, but work still needs to be done to bring down rising trends in violent offences.

The statistics examine the number of crimes recorded between July and September 2004, compared to the same period last year.

Chief Constable Peter Fahy revealed the figures in his quarterly report to the Cheshire Police Authority.

He said: "We are actually seeing an overall reduction in crime and a dramatic reduction in burglary and vehicle crime.

"Serious assaults, muggings and business robbery is down, however, common assault and harassment figures are up."

Figures show that life-threatening and gun crime is down by 11 per cent. However, violent crime in general is up by nine per cent - although 58 per cent of the incidents recorded relate to non-life threatening, low-level offences like common assault and harassment.

A total of 20 per cent more Class A drug supply offences have been dealt with this year, of which 30 per cent related to cocaine and 30 per cent to heroin.