CRIME in Bolton has fallen over the past year, new figures show.

The total number of crimes recorded in Bolton between April 1, 2011 and March 31 this year was 20,508, which is 215 fewer than the same period the previous year.

Serious violent crime has fallen by 23 per cent — from 188 victims to 144.

There were 32 fewer robberies, falling from 287 to 255, while car crime has also dropped from 2,426 to 1,999, an 18 per cent fall.

Burglary has fallen from 1,419 to 1,372 and anti-social behaviour has gone down from 17,078 to 14,983.

Bolton’s top police officer, Ch Supt David Hull, said he wanted to thank the public for helping the police do their job.

He said: “Thanks to the hard work of my staff and the improvement in the way we share skills and information and work in partnership with other agencies, we have managed to build on our achievements last year and make the area an even more hostile place for criminals to operate. I would also like to pay tribute to members of the public.

“Thanks to their diligence and information we have been able to make good arrests and tackle the crimes and issues that have the biggest impact on our communities.

“It is important we look beyond the figures and realise that they are not just numbers but incidents that actually have massive impacts on individuals’ lives.

“For example, if we have one less burglary that is one less person having to go through the traumatic experience of having their home invaded and personal possessions taken from them.”