VIOLENT crime remains the top priority for Blackpool’s police after it was revealed it is on the up in the resort.
The latest figures show there were 142 more crimes during 2012’s summer season than last year, but residents are being reassured the picture will not be repeated in 2013.
And officers are winning the fight against crime in other areas, with serious ‘acquisitive crime’ – including vehicle crime, burglaries and robberies down 8.7 per cent, anti-social behaviour in the resort down 14 per cent, and house burglaries down by 20.9 per cent.
Criminal damage and arson are also down by 12 per cent.
Insp Jason Richardson, geographic inspector for Blackpool central, said: “It (violent crime) is still our number one priority.
“Since I started in mid-November we’ve reduced serious violent crime.
“There was an increase in assault without injury earlier on in the year, and certainly over the last few months we’ve brought that back.”
The figures, released at a Blackpool Council meeting, relate to April to November last year and show overall crime is down by 6.5 per cent.
The Home Office has also unveiled Lancashire Police’s crime statistics, which were recorded between September 2011 and September last year.
They show overall crime in the county is down 2.1 per cent but, as in Blackpool, violent crime is up, with 1.2 per cent or 251 more crimes.
Across Lancashire, fraud and forgery are also up by 9.6 per cent and burglary by 2.3 per cent, but vehicle crime, theft, robbery and sexual offences have all fallen.
Asst Chief Con Mark Bates said: “Being a victim of crime can be a devastating experience for anyone although it is reassuring to see that overall crime has continued to fall in Lancashire.
“We work hard with our partner agencies to keep the county safe and I am pleased these efforts continue to pay off, with more than 2,000 fewer people being spared the misery of becoming victims.”