Crime rate in North drops

Crime rates in the North have dropped over the past year, police will reveal today.

But despite impressive performances in several areas, new figures are expected to confirm a rise in incidents fuelled by racism.

Clearance rates fell too, although the Police Service has attributed this to higher new evidential standards set for some cases.

Deputy chief constable Paul Leighton will brief the Policing Board on the force's annual statistics later today.

He is expected to confirm the number of burglaries, thefts, fraud and car crimes from April 2006 to March 2007 were all down on the previous 12 months.

More people were also arrested for drug related offences during the last year too.

Although murder levels fell, there was a slight overall increase in violent crimes which range from intimidation to killings.

And it is believed to be a mixed picture within so-called hate crimes.

A significant increase in racist crimes, along with more faith/religious crimes, has been tempered by less homophobic and sectarian offences.