Crime in West Yorkshire has dropped to its lowest for seven years, according to a report published today.

Recorded crime has fallen by 6.3 per cent to less than 250,000 offences in 1997-98 - 19 per cent less than five years ago.

Chief Constable Graham Moore presented the figures in his annual report to the Police Authority, which released its own report today.

House burglaries are down more than 16 per cent, to 36,923. Some 34 per cent of burglaries are now solved.

Violent crime is down three per cent and three quarters of these offences are solved in the county - more than in any other metropolitan force.

Arrests for drug offences were at record levels, with 6,900 arrests in 1997-98 - 12 per cent more than the target set by the police authority.

Mr Moore said: "West Yorkshire Police has a reputation for excellence, for being innovative and for being at the leading edge of policing in this country.

"Crimes of violence generate the greatest fear but are least likely to be experienced. Fear of crime can cripple communities and I want to shift that fear where it belongs - onto those who are committing crimes."

Authority chairman Councillor Neil Taggart said: "The Force and the authority can be proud that together they have achieved significant reductions in crime.

"The Force has met or exceeded most of the targets we set in the authority's annual policing plan." He added that the main priority was to direct police resources and services towards improving community safety.

"The authority is committed to ensuring that people can feel safe both in their homes and on the streets," he said.

Vehicle thefts are down 16.5 per cent, with nearly 4,000 fewer vehicles stolen than in the previous year. The report found there had been 644 reports of racial incidents in the county. A number of initiatives have been credited with helping to reduce crime.

They include a work to play scheme at Toller Lane to give youngsters something to do with their spare time and steer them away from crime.

Mr Moore said: "The results are down to the hard work of police officers, support staff and members of the Special Constabulary."

l Police authority chairman Councillor Neil Taggart announced that Sir William MacPherson, head of the Stephen Lawrence police inquiry, would visit Bradford on October 21. He said the aim of the visit was to talk not only about the results of the inquiry but also about the state of policing in general and in West Yorkshire.

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