Liverpool’s serious crime hotspots revealed

Mar 17 2010 Liverpool Echo

Mathew Street

A Citysafe spokesman said: “This report is based upon historic data and the very latest statistics covering the period April 2009 to January 2010 show significant reductions in serious crime.

“Gun crime is now down by 31% compared to the previous year, while knife crime has dropped 6% and serious violence has fallen 3%.

“We have recently launched a raft of new initiatives including a marshalled taxi rank, a Licensees’ Watch scheme to prevent violence in clubs, bars and restaurants, and the introduction of portable knife poles to detect blades.

“But we are not complacent and despite the relatively small chance of people in Liverpool being the victim of a serious crime, we are working hard with our partners to reduce the number of offences further.”

A Merseyside police spokesman said: “The latest official figures from the Government show that crime on Merseyside has continued to fall for the past four years, with significant decreases in gun crime, knife crime, robbery and violence.

“This has been achieved by the police taking strong, robust action against the perpetrators of these offences and by working with other agencies to educate people about the consequences of getting involved in crime and to deter would-be offenders.

“This work will continue with the police working tirelessly to provide a service that local people can be proud of and confident in.

“Furthermore, crime in Liverpool has also been reduced and the city is regarded as one of the safest cities in Europe to live, work or visit.

“ Significant decreases in gun crime (40.7%), knife crime (20.6%) and robbery (9.8%) were recorded for the period July-September 2009 compared to the previous year.”

“The figures contained in the Community Safety Scrutiny Panel report cross-over a period when changes were made nationally in what types of offences were recorded under the definition 'knife crime' and, as such, will include incidents where other sharp or pointed instruments such as a sharp pen, glass or bottle was used, or a knife was perceived to have been carried by the offender even if it was never seen during the crime.

“Since this change in reclassification, and as the report clarifies in its conclusion, the most recent knife crime figures (June - November 2009) knife crime is showing a 9% reduction compared to that same six month period in 2008.”

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