By Graham Brown

LAST MONTH capped a year-long drop in recorded crime across Tayside, according to new statistics revealed by the chief constable.

Figures include a fall of nearly 40% in recorded housebreakings. Chief Constable John Vine says the targeting of repeat offenders is contributory to the success rates.

He adds that the force must guard against complacency.

The data to be presented to Tayside Joint Police Board members in Forfar early next week shows a drop of 7% for the first six month of 2003/04 compared to the same period last year— over 1100 fewer crimes.

“September 2003 was the 12th consecutive month in which recorded crime was down on its equivalent preceding year,” says Mr Vine.

“This continuing trend gives further confidence that the strategies and tactics being actively pursued by the force and its partners in local government and elsewhere are making a very real difference.

“The overall detection rate for the period was 53.9% compared to 39.6% for the same six months last year, with over 1600 more detected crimes.

“These results continue to reflect the determination to target, in particular, the relatively small number of repeat offenders and the ongoing development of the National Intelligence Model (NIM) to policing.”

The targeting of repeat offenders is starkly portrayed in the increase in breaches of bail conditions from 162 bail offences in April-September last year to 683 offences for the same period this year.

“Tayside Police is actively checking to ensure that bail conditions are closely adhered to, particularly in relation to those people who are known to carry out crimes while on bail,” said a spokesman yesterday.

“The force works closely with the Crown Office and the sheriffs to ensure strict bail conditions are placed upon those people who repeatedly break into houses and cars. Their movements are then closely monitored by the police and action is taken if bail conditions are breached.”

There were 13 fewer incidents of serious violent crime, a fall of 3.6% on the first half of last year, with detection rates rising by more than 10%.

“This means nine out of every ten crimes in this most serious category are being detected,” Mr Vine adds.

Special focus is given to the reduc- tion in domestic housebreaking where the chief constable highlights a continuation of what he described as “a very significant earlier reduction,” with 286 fewer recorded crimes—a fall of nearly 40%.

“Each division has recorded a significant improvement in its detection rate with at least one in every three crimes now being detected,” the report says.

The statistics also reveal a drop in vandalism.

“The figures include the traditionally challenging period of the long school summer holiday and show a reduction of 6.5%, or 267 fewer crimes than last year,” Mr Vine says.

“The rise in the detection rate for vandalism to 29.4% from 19% in the same period last year is encouraging. Vandalism is a matter of great public concern and the success of the force in securing 348 more detections is a clear indication of the priority it gives to this offence.”

The final area highlighted in the data is road policing, where statistics for the first six months of the year show a reduction of 29.4%.

“This is seen by a reduction of 55 on the figure for 2002/2003, when 187 people were killed or seriously injured. The number of children killed or seriously injured also shows a reduction of 54.5%, from 33 last period to 15 for this six-month period.”

Assistant Chief Constable Willie Bald said, “We would be naive to think that figures alone tell us all we need to know about crime and the fear of crime in our area. But they do offer a statistical record that gives a certain focus to the overall picture of crime in Tayside.

“When considered with intelligence gathered and information received, they can tell us where the priorities for policing in our force area are being met and where the challenges in the community lie.

“These figures are a measure of the industry of Tayside Police staff in tackling crime. They have been achieved through the Tayside policing style—a community-based and, in many respects, pragmatic approach to policing—which is underpinned by the NIM and a robust crime recording system,” he continued.

“The structure for continuous improvement in terms of reducing and detecting crime is in place. But it can flourish or falter according to the support of the public.

“We need the community to report crime as it happens; to make us aware of issues concerning them where they live; and to hold us to account when they feel we are providing them with less than the high standards they expect and deserve.”