Force detection rate at record level and one of the highest in the UK.
Northern Constabulary can reveal that its detection rate for the first 11 months of the current financial year is the highest ever achieved by the Force and one of the highest in the UK.
The Northern Joint Police Board meeting has fallen just before the end of the financial year, but with the detection rate already at 67.3% there is a chance that figure could rise again by the year end.
The statistics (beginning of April 2011 to the end of February 2012) for the Force reveal that based on a three year average there were 974 fewer reported crimes. Figures for the year alone show a continued downward trend in crime, with a slight reduction in reported crime from 12,596 in 2010/2011 down to 12,523 in 2011/12. This means there were 73 fewer victims of crime over the past year.
East Division (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey) shows a 5.97% increase in its detection rate, currently sitting at 67.6%. Central Division (Ross and Cromarty, Western Isles, Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh) sees a 0.93% increase in its detection rate to 64.59% and North Division (Shetland, Orkney, Caithness, Sutherland and East Ross) is up 5.28% to 68.68%.
Also based on a three year average there were 10 fewer people killed on the roads of the Highlands and Islands. There were also 37 fewer serious casualties and 157 fewer slight casualties.
The Force has also achieved an excellent 100% detection rate in terms of drug possession and supply, meaning that if you are involved in the drug trade in the Northern Constabulary force area you are more likely to be caught than in any other area of the UK.
The detection rates for serious crime including murder, attempted murder and serious assault also remain high. The detection rate for murder is 100%, attempted murder is 100% and serious assault is 94.88%.
Chief Constable George Graham said: "A detection rate of 67.3% across class 1-5 crimes is excellent by any standards and remains one of the highest detection rates in the UK. This is higher even than last year's high detection rate of 64%.
The report demonstrates that Northern Constabulary continues to drive up standards and strives to give the best possible policing service."
He added: "We are in the midst of reform at this time and during these challenging times for the Force, it is a credit to the hard work and dedication of police officers and police staff that they have delivered such excellent results."