Crime rates leapt by a fifth during October and violent offences climbed by almost a quarter, but police clear up figures reached their highest level this financial year.

Total offences numbered 1,297 during the month 20.3 per cent higher than October 2001 with violent crime showing an upward trajectory of 23.5 per cent and street crime rising by 37.5 per cent.

The fall in burglary during September was not matched in October when break-ins rose by almost 12 per cent, while car crime, which police chiefs labelled a non-priority, increased by 58.7 per cent.

But on the plus side, officers managed a clear up rate of 16.9 per cent, almost double September's figure and the highest so far during the 2001/2 financial year.

Clear ups for burglary reached 15.4 per cent, the highest of the year and three times the level for September, while offences of criminal damage dropped by 16.5 per cent in October 2001.

The sharp rise in racist crime during September, which officers attributed in part to reactions to the terrorist attacks on America, did not occur in October, when the number of offences mat-ched last year's figure.

The large jump in street crime continues a worrying trend between August and October offences rose by 63.8 per cent. But officers appear to be getting their hands on many of the offenders with a clear up rate of 21.7 per cent in October, just under the average for the year so far of 23.6 per cent.

December 12, 2001 17:30