THE focus of police on key areas of crime in Radcliffe has helped to cut the number of offences in the town.

The number of reported robberies, burglaries on houses, car crime, and violent crime have fallen compared to last year's figures.

In a report to the meeting of the Radcliffe Area Board last Thursday, head of Radcliffe Township, Inspector Steve Clark, said: "While there is crime in our area, just as there is crime in every part of the country, please remember, the overall quantity of crime is reducing.

"Radcliffe is a relatively safe area when compared to Bury as a whole and Bury is the safest borough in the whole of Greater Manchester."

Robberies have fallen from 64 in 2003/04 to 41 in 2004/05 and burglaries on houses, from 367 to 315.

Car crime, including theft from cars and of vehicles has fallen by 191, from 850 to 659, while all violent crime has seen a reduction of 120, from 744 to 624. Violence against another person has fallen by 90, from 644 to 554.

The five areas of crime are the ones that the police in Radcliffe are being asked to focus on and are the classifications used by the Home Office.

Insp Clark added: "Only 78 per cent of burglary dwelling offences are reported to the police."