UK NEWS

MANCHESTER TOPS BURGLARY MAP OF BRITAIN

HOT SPOT: Manchester has the most burglaries

Wednesday July 29,2009

By Julia White for Express.co.uk

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(1)

MANCHESTER is the burglary "hot spot" of the UK, according to new figures today.

The north west city topped the league, with more than 30 home break-ins for 1,000 households a year - along with parts of Nottingham and Reading.

Rural Teesdale in Co Durham has the lowest rate, with only 14 offences in total last year, or 1.2 for every 1,000 homes.

Some areas of the UK are suffering a burglary "in almost every street", according to the Tories who uncovered the figures.

Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said: “These figures show that in the worst areas there has been a burglary in almost every street in the past few months.

Some areas are suffering a burglary in in "almost every street"

“This increase in burglaries is a big problem, and it’s not just down to the recession.

“The jump in drug taking announced last week is also a big factor - since a large proportion of burglaries result from people trying to get money to feed a drug addiction.

But the Government said burglary levels have more than halved since 1997.

Annual crime figures released earlier this month showed a 1 per cent increase in house burglaries - the first annual rise for six years.

Police recorded 284,445 house break-ins in the financial year 2008/9 - meaning one family falling victim every two minutes.

The revelations came as ministers revealed which areas received a slice of £5 million for improving property security.

More than 45,000 homes are to have their security improved by the Safer Homes Fund.

Older people and those on low incomes will be targeted with new window and door locks.

Home Office minister Alan Campbell said: “Burglary has more than halved since 1997 and the recent crime figures show that, despite a recession, the level is not going up.

“We are not complacent however and we want to do more, which is why this week we announced £5 million from the Safer Homes Fund to protect people in the most vulnerable communities.

“Operation Vigilance allows the police to target more prolific offenders, including burglars, and the Drug Interventions Programme is proving increasingly successful at breaking the link between drug taking and acquisitive crime. The Government is backing local police and local partnerships to make people safer in their homes.”