Recorded crimes at lowest for three years

Saturday 16th April 2005, 12:00AM BST.

THERE were 1,173 recorded crimes in the first quarter of 2005 – the lowest figure for three years and six per cent down on the same period in 2004.

The police have hailed the downward trend as evidence that their targeting of known offenders using sophisticated intelligence is working.

Special teams have been sent out 200 times in the past six months to crack down on key burglars, joyriders, shoplifters, those who receive stolen goods and lower-level drug dealers.

Figures from the UK show that 50 per cent of offences are committed by ten per cent of offenders and ten per cent of crime by 0.5 per cent of offenders.

Those statistics are thought to be equally applicable in the Island.

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