CRIME STATISTICS have fallen substantially over the past year, the PSNI has claimed.
However, concern persists about the levels of crime-solving achieved by the police service.
According to the latest figures, combined crime across all categories fell by 10.5 per cent. The total number of crimes reported to the PSNI was 108,468. This represents a fall of 12,676 on the previous figures.
However, just one crime in five was solved by the police and the trend is downward, placing the PSNI's performance at the lower end of the scale in comparison with similar police services in Britain.
Deputy chief constable Paul Leighton said: "This year it has fallen by 10.5 per cent, which is a substantial decrease, and is testament to the work of police officers throughout Northern Ireland who have been working determinedly to drive crime down.
"Police officers in all areas have been working with local communities to listen to their concerns about crime and working in partnership to tackle those problems." The statistics show that violent crime fell 7.7 per cent, while robberies and acts of criminal damage fell 27.4 per cent and 14.9 per cent respectively.
Some statistical trends appeared contradictory. There was a 1.1 per cent rise in sexual offences but an 11.4 per cent fall in reported rapes. Burglaries were up by 1.2 per cent, but there were also 1.7 per cent fewer domestic burglaries.
The trend in domestic crimes and hate crimes was downward and there were fewer racist and sectarian attacks. However, there was a 61.5 per cent rise in attacks on people with disabilities, although the total of 16 was statistically small.
The PSNI said a new method of calculating its crime-solving rate could explain the drop in successes. "Virtually all clearances resulting in no further action - as in the case of a complainant declining to prosecute - could not be claimed as a valid clearance," Mr Leighton said.
Policing Board chairman Sir Desmond Rea said the "low overall clearance rate remains a cause for concern".