Crimes recorded in NI down by 3,000 on previous year

The police recorded 3,000 fewer crimes in 2012/13 than in the previous year

There were 100,389 crimes recorded by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in 2012/13 compared with 103,389 in 2011/12, a decrease of 3,000 (2.9%).

The figures were contained in the PSNI's latest crime statistics for Northern Ireland.

Policing board chair, Brian Rea, welcomed the decrease.

Board members will discuss the report with the chief constable Matt Baggott at the June board meeting.

"It is extremely encouraging that over the last year recorded crime levels reduced by a further 3,000 crimes keeping records in Northern Ireland at their lowest level. This maintains a downward trend over the last four years which is very welcome news," said Mr Rea.

"Whilst these figures show that we live in a relatively safe society, the focus for the board and PSNI remains on the quality of service delivered to the community by the police, and particularly to those in our community who are more vulnerable.

Antisocial behaviour

"As a society we should be particularly concerned about the levels and incidents of crime with a domestic motivation and those that are hate motivated."

Mr Rea said the policing board was "mindful of the public desire" to find out how crime is being dealt with by the police and that outcomes were reported back by the police to victims of crime.

"Detection rates for crime and the outcomes achieved for the community will remain an area of focus for the board in the time ahead," Mr Rea added.

"Looking forward, we hope that the policing and community safety partnerships, working with community and other statutory agencies, will play a key role in both crime prevention and responding to issues, such as antisocial behaviour, in local areas.

"As a board we are fully supportive of the work that is being taken forward by these groups."

The PSNI's statistical report covers the period 1 April 2012-31 March 2013.