Crime figures improve - but still third worst

POLICE will target yobs and robbers after crime figures showed Notts had improved but was still third worst for crime in the country.

The force recorded 109 crimes per 1,000 people, compared to a national average of 88. Only Greater Manchester Police and the Met fared worse.

But Deputy Chief Constable Howard Roberts (pictured) said the force had improved dramatically in the last six years, and was "proud" of his force's performance.

"We have seen crime in the county fall almost 8% in the last twelve months, meaning there have been almost 9,700 fewer victims of crime," he said.

"We have also bucked the trend when it comes to burglary and vehicle crime.

"These figures go to the end of March. In the three months since, crime has dropped 10% and burglary by 16.6%.

"We intend to apply even more resources to tackling the robbery rise and have already locked up some of the teams of robbers.

"Anti-social behaviour is another key issue. We are placing a greater emphasis on the identification of repeat victims and repeat offenders, because we know from our own research that this is a big issue."