PSNI chief says North crime is down 10%

Overall crime in Northern Ireland has dropped by more than 10 per cent, Chief Constable Hugh Orde claimed today.

Detection rates over the last 12 months increased by 4.4 per cent and there were 14,000 fewer victims, according to his annual report.

In spite of paramilitary threats and intimidation by paramilitaries he said the work of the district policing partnerships was helping make Northern Ireland safer.

Crime had fallen by 10.2 per cent with crime-prevention levels at their highest mark.

The Chief Constable said: "Every citizen, every community leader, every politician has a role to play."