Car crime and burglaries reduced

The board said the PSNI had demonstrated success

There has been a reduction in vehicle crime and domestic burglary in the past year, according to the Northern Ireland Policing Board's third annual report.

Overall figures show there were 14,500 fewer victims of crime in the year from April 2003 to March this year, the report says.

Board chairman Professor Desmond Rea said there was no doubt that fear of crime still existed.

"I trust that the wider community will be assured that Northern Ireland is a relatively safe place to live," he said.

In its third annual report, the board said while the PSNI had demonstrated success in the figures released earlier this year, "these must now be maintained and areas of concern addressed".

During the last year, the DPPs have provided the forum for local people to become involved in having a say on how policing in their area is delivered Prof Desmond Rea Policing Board chairman

"Since its creation in November 2001, the board has been getting on with the business on the policing agenda and substantial progress has been made by the PSNI in effecting changes to policing structures, processes and practices," said Professor Rea.

"This has not been change for the sake of change - but change that improves how the policing service is delivered to the community."

Despite continued threats against many of its members, the work of the District Policing Partnerships in local communities represented another important milestone for police community relations, said the chairman.

"During the last year, the DPPs have provided the forum for local people to become involved in having a say on how policing in their area is delivered."

He said it was the board's hope the restoration of the political institutions and return to political stability in Northern Ireland would deliver full political support for policing.

This year, a colour supplement review of the board's work is expected to reach more than 200,000 homes through Northern Ireland's three daily newspapers.