Dramatic fall in West Yorkshire crime rate.

(From Yorkshire Evening Post)

By Bruce Smith A MAJOR fall in crime in West Yorkshire has seen more than 50,000 fewer victims over an eight month period of 2004.

Robberies almost halved between April and November and there were 8,000 fewer house burglaries, according to statistics released by West Yorkshire Police.

Also encouraging was the 'dramatic' reduction in vehicle crimes, said a force spokeswoman.

Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn said: "This is all excellent news to start the year as we mean to go on." The chief stressed reductions in offences were a direct result of good policing and the provision of adequate resources to tackle problems.

"These results haven't just happened by chance. They are the result of a clear focus on priority crime, some excellent work by our officers and of course having the resources to do it all," he said.

"Although the force still lags behind other metropolitan forces in terms of officers per head of population, it is catching up. It's a clear equation," said Mr Cramphorn.