Force failing to hit target

Police are still only solving a quarter of crimes across the West Midlands, figures revealed today. The number of offences fell by more than eight per cent in last month – from 23,067 last August to 21,088 in the same period this year.

But only 5,452 crimes were solved last month, meaning the force missed its detection target of 27 per cent. Figures are in a new monthly internet report from West Midlands Police giving a breakdown of how many crimes are taking place in each of the region's town's and cities.

It reveals that:

* Crime in Wolverhampton fell from 1,002 to 962 last month – but is up from 4,847 to 4,973 for the year so far.

* In Wednesfield, it rose to 1,088 from 1,026 in August.

* In Walsall, crime fell last month from 1,014 to 941 in the same period this year.

* In Bloxwich, it rose from 910 last August to 1,042 in the same period this year.

* In North Sandwell, crime rose slightly from 1,138 to 1,142

* In South Sandwell, it fell from 1,326 to 1,188

* Dudley North saw a fall from 1,102 to 996

* Dudley South saw one of the biggest falls – 1,042 offences in August last year compared to 877 in the same period this year.

The figures also show that the number of fatal and serious road accidents across the area almost doubled from 17 in August 2006 to 33 last month.

Racially aggravated crimes fell from 300 to 265 – but are up from 1,352 to 1,468 for the year so far.

Criminal damage also fell from 4,514 to 4,000 last month – a trend which has continued throughout the year.

The figures also include details of the force's Feeling the Difference surveys, which ask thousands of people how safe they feel in the region.

Latest figures show 95 per cent of people feel safe and 90 per cent feel their area is "harmonious".

West Midlands Police prides itself on its performance and has been named as the top performing metropolitan force by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.

The figures are available at http://www.west-mid lands.police.uk/aboutus/performance.asp