Street crime report shows reduction in robberies

Street crime report shows reduction in robberies
Steps to target street crime in ten parts of England have cut robbery by 17 per cent according to a report published today.

The Government launched the Street Crime Initiative in March 2002. It brings together all the agencies that have a role to play in cutting crime. Today's 'Streets Ahead' report is the result of one of the largest ever joint inspections, with all ten areas visited between January and March.

Home Secretary David Blunkett said the results of the Initiative speak for themselves, with the 17 per cent cut in robbery meaning there are 17,000 fewer victims.

"We are making progress on cutting crime right across the board - including diverting young people from crime, targeting police activity on robbery hotspots, overhauling the criminal justice system to ensure better care of victims and witnesses, increasing drug treatment, and putting a record number of police officers (132,268) on our streets supported by 1,400 Community Support Officers."

The report also highlights ways of making the scheme even more effective - for example by sharing good practice and breaking the cycle of offending.

"The report rightly points out that some parts of the system don't work as well as they should," said Mr Blunkett. "That is exactly why we started the Street Crime Initiative - to look at new ways of working, to bridge gaps and make parts of the system work together better."

The ten forces involved in the initiative are Avon and Somerset, Thames Valley, Metropolitan Police Service, Nottingham, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester Police and West Midlands Police.