A CURSORY glance at the1994-95 Greater Manchester Police crime figures might shock Bolton householders.

Burglaries in the region were the fourth highest in the country, and detetection rates were just seven per cent.

Further investigation, though, reveals that many more crimes were detected by "other means" than investigation, and that local incidence of burglary and violent crime are both down.

It is plain that police in such a large metropolitan area as ours are doing their best to stem the tide of crime, and that they compare well with other major forces. However, this is no argument for lessening public vigilance or responsibility in working with authority to make Bolton a safer place in which to live.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.