Crime Reporter

Last updated 11:40, Wednesday, 14 May 2008

POLICE chiefs have paid tribute to the dedication of their officers after figures revealed an across-the-board fall in recorded crime in Cumbria.

By Nick Griffiths

The number of reports of robberies, car crimes, violent offences and anti-social behaviour complaints all dropped in the 12 months up to March.

Officers said the forthcoming recruitment of extra officers and civilian staff – as well as moves to further free up bobbies from bureaucracy – would help build on the results.

The statistics, listed in an annual performance review of Cumbria Constabulary, showed:

n A 23.9 per cent drop in robberies;

n A 17.5 per cent reduction in thefts from vehicles;

n A 23.5 per cent fall in thefts of vehicles;

n A 14.5 per cent drop in incidents of anti-social behaviour;

n A 1.4 per cent reduction in violent crime.

Overall crime fell by 8.4 per cent, from 38,403 offences in the 2006/07 financial year to 35,163 during the following 12 months.

Chief Constable Craig Mackey said: “We must not become complacent – together we can continue to improve the quality of life in every neighbourhood.

“To achieve this, we will provide 21 new PCs and nine community support officers.

“They will be dedicated to working with communities to tackle neighbourhood issues such as anti-social behaviour and criminal damage.

“We will also reduce bureaucracy so that officers spend less time on paperwork and more time in the community.

“We will continue to focus on serious and violent crime.

“Thirty extra police officers and staff will be dedicated to tackling this sort of crime and managing dangerous offenders and vulnerable adults.”

Reg Watson, chairman of Cumbria Police Authority, which oversees the force, said: “These results support my sincere belief that never in the 160 history of the Constabulary has Cumbria ever been better policed.”