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Crackdown on street crime pays dividends

29/10/2002

SALFORD'S police are cracking street crime and that's official, after recent figures have shown a 26 per cent drop in the number of personal robberies and thefts.

The Street Crime Initiative including Operation Hawk, which is a crackdown on muggers, the fast tracking of street robbers through the courts and an extensive witness support service, has been hailed as the reason behind the success.

Other highlights of the initiative include school based police officers, a Hawk Walk safe route where police officers patrol routes university students take to and from college, safety talks given to school children and the new fixed-wing aircraft.

The number of street robberies and snatches have dropped by 322 in just six months, from April this year until September and robberies alone have fallen by 10 per cent from July until September compared to the same period last year.

More than 1,000 people have been arrested and charged in the six months since the initiative was introduced and £2m worth of vehicles have been recovered.

The figures represent the whole of Greater Manchester and are a coup for the region's cops as the number of robberies in nearby Merseyside have actually risen by one per cent since the introduction of the initiative.

Asst Chief Const Alan Green said: "We are delighted with this hugely significant achievement, which has only been possible with the determination of all those involved.

"The initiative has brought long lasting benefits to communities throughout Greater Manchester which have been plagued by criminals. This has been a co-ordinated effort and a success for all contributing agencies."

He added: "We have clearly shown what Greater Manchester Police can achieve when given the appropriate funding. Criminals should be warned that the fight against street crime continues, as does Operation Hawk. We are ready for the next challenge to reduce street crime even further."

The Street Crime Initiative has seen police working in partnership with many other agencies including the justice system, local authorities and witness support among many others.