Crime on Merseyside has fallen by nearly 20,000 incidents in the last 12 months and has saved victims, the local economy, the criminal justice system, health service and insurance industry £46.4m.
Figures released by Merseyside Police today show overall crimes have fallen by 11.3% since April last year and violent crime has fallen by 24% (9,302 less crimes).
The results also show:
- Robbery has fallen by 8.5% (212 less crimes with a cost saving of £1.6m)
- Domestic burglary has fallen by 5.3% (547 less crimes with a cost saving of £1.9m)
- Unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle fallen by 14.6% (2,191 less crimes with a cost saving of £2m)
- Criminal damage down 4.8% (2,009 less crimes with a cost saving of £1.8m)
- Wounding down 23.1% (3,924 less crimes with a cost saving of £33.9m)
- Common assault down 11.1% (619 less crimes, with a cost saving of £957,593).
Assistant Chief Constable Simon Byrne said: "This is tangible proof that the Total Policing approach is working. We are delighted with these results because one less crime means one less victim."
Total Policing is about a war on crime, which also offers total support to the victims of crime. The approach aims to create an environment in which it is impossible for criminals to operate. The Force is doing this through the introduction of new tactics as well as maximising the potential of new technology in fighting crime.
Over the last 12 months Merseyside Police has achieved these results through a variety of techniques including targeted operations; use of ANPR cars, the launch of the anti-social behaviour taskforce Axis and the seizure of cash and assets from those involved in criminal activity.
Since a new system of targeted operations and raids was introduced last year, Merseyside Police has made 1,328 arrests, executed 276 search warrants and seized 891 vehicles. Acquisitive crime, drugs, breaches in licensing regulations and people wanted on warrants are among those areas targeted so far. The Force broke its own records last year, when in one 24 hour period it arrest 215 people in a targeted operation.
Merseyside Police's anti-social behaviour taskforce, Axis, was launched in October last year and has so far arrested 516 people, issued 134 fixed penalty notices and seized 78 vehicles.
It has seen reductions of up to 55% in anti-social behaviour in hot spots across Merseyside. It is also launched multi-agency operations working closely with a variety partners agencies including local authorities, Customs and Revenue, the Environment Agency and RSCPA.
Since April last year there have been 369 Acceptable Behaviour Contracts; 56 ASBOs; 49 CRASBOs; 14,717 Penalty Notices for Disorder and 69 Section 30 Dispersal Orders issued across Merseyside.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition allows the Force to instantly recognise cars that are stolen, uninsured and unregistered. The Force believes that by taking away the cars of these individuals, it is removing their ability to commit crime.
Since January last year there have been 13,060 vehicles seized by Merseyside Police's ANPR units. Since September 1,200 people have been arrested as a result of an ANPR stop, 4,200 summons have been issued and 3,600 seizures made.
In the last 12 months, Merseyside Police has seized £2,216,450 in cash and a further £1,523,000 has been forfeited after going before the courts.
Over the same period, Merseyside Police has obtained Confiscation Orders to remove cash, assets and property which are the proceeds of criminal activity amounting to £4,187,965. It makes Merseyside the best performing force in the country, with the exception of the Metropolitain Police.
ACC Byrne continued: "We are prepared to use every tool available to us, within the law, to full effect to tackle crime. Our aim is not only to catch criminals but also to make it impossible for them to operate.
"These results are due to a number of elements. Our staff are working hard using new techniques and new technology. It's also about community confidence. Communities know that when they give us information we will develop that intelligence and act upon it.. Support and information from communities has produced real dividends in the last 12 months and we hope to build upon this in the future. We are also working very closely with our partners, particularly the local authorities, to develop new approaches to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.
"It is bad news for criminals. Not only has crime fallen but we have increased the number of arrests per day over the course of the year by 14%, from 151 per day in July 2006 to 173 in March 07, and we are hitting our targets for 999 calls. It is all part of a bigger package - if you get to the scene of a crime faster, you have a greater chance of catching criminals in the act.
"There have been some other developments which has also helped us achieve these results and build our links with communities. We now have 475 Community Support Officers carrying out valuable work in communities across Merseyside and we have increased the number of police officers. This has all been achieved with the support of the Police Authority.
"Our ambition is to keep building on these results. Violence, robbery and burglary are the crimes that cause communities the most harm and this is where we will focus our efforts in the future.
"Another hope for the coming year is to build on the impact of the recently-launched Hate Crime Investigation Unit. This is already showing significant results, not just in terms of statistics but also with positive feedback from the community.
"We are now getting national interest from the Home Office and other forces in the work we are carrying out. These results are clear evidence that Total Policing works and we hope to build on them in the future but this would not be achievable without the support of communities and our partner agencies."
Paul Johnson, Treasurer of Merseyside Police Authority, said: “Merseyside Police Authority monitors and scrutinises the performance of Merseyside Police and we are delighted to see that they are performing so well. Over recent years there has been investment in police officer numbers and Police Community Support Officers, along with other areas such as new technology and the anti-social behaviour taskforce. I am sure these figures reflect that these investments are coming to fruition.
“At our public consultation events we hear the concerns of people from across Merseyside and one of the main fears we hear is around violent crime. To know that violent crime is down by 24% will be very reassuring to Merseyside residents. The information that the public gives us is very important and goes towards fighting crime and working towards bringing the figures down.
“We have a Performance Scrutiny and Review committee that meets every six weeks and we will continue to monitor these figures set within the Annual Policing Plan.”