North's police board to tackle crime and drugs

The new Police Board in the North says crime, public order and drug tackling are its top priorities in the year ahead.

Its first policing plan, published this morning, also says managing change and reducing sickness levels will be a priority in making the best use of its resources.

The policing plan sets targets of reducing burglaries by 15 per cent over five years, of reducing car theft by ten per cent and theft from vehicles by ten per cent.

On public order, it says confidence levels under 51 per cent will be regarded as a failure, although the Police board would rather that this disappear altogether as a priority.