West Yorkshire Police
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Crime Down Across West Yorkshire

A report to last weeks meeting of West Yorkshire Police Authority’s Strategic Planning and Performance Committee focused on how the Force is performing against targets set by Authority.

The Force is set to hit targets in relation to reducing key priority crimes such as violent crime, vehicle crime and criminal damage.

There were 17,767 fewer victims of crime between April and December last year, when compared with same period the previous year – a drop of 9.4 per cent. Latest figures also show:

• 3,714 fewer violent crimes, a 9.8 per cent drop
• Vehicle crime down by 15.3 per cent – 3,865 fewer crimes
• Criminal damage down by 13.8 per cent – 6,167 fewer crimes

Recent months have seen an increase in the number of burglaries, but the Force has a number of operations underway across the county to combat thieves.

Operation Maximum Impact was also launched earlier this week to crack down on criminals across the region. Police in West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and Humberside will come together throughout February for a series of co-ordinated operations.

Deputy Chief Constable Julia Hodson said: “We are delighted that crime is falling overall, but house burglary remains a concern. We are targeting known burglars and focusing on the problem through initiatives like the Maximum Impact four force campaign running through February. Officers out on the ground this week have reported a lot of people leave their homes insecure. Though the nights are getting lighter, it's important to lock your doors.

“I know crime continues to concern people and the latest reductions will hopefully help to allay those concerns. We have also found that people have more confidence in areas where we have a well established Neighbourhood Policing Team getting to the root of local problems. That is where we are directing our efforts and by next month will have re-shaped NPTs to better serve people at an even more local level.”

Ann Liston, Chair of the Authority's Strategic Planning and Performance Committee, said "With the exception of burglary, the Force is on track to achieve the crime reduction targets set by the Authority as part of last year's Policing Plan. The Chief Constable and everyone in the Force should be congratulated for their efforts. However, the report showed that a number of the public confidence and satisfaction targets were unlikely to be met and the Authority was keen to hear about the positive steps the Force was proposing to improve performance in this area."

West Yorkshire Police Authority

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