THE number of violent crimes committed in the town during October was well below the target for Redditch and Bromsgrove, it has been revealed.

Redditch police have just released their latest crime figures which show there have only been 0.53 incidents of violent crime per 1,000 population. The target is 0.86.

Detection rates for crimes have also increased dramatically despite an overall rise in reported crime during the month.

Insp Jeff Hill, of Redditch police, said: "I am very pleased with the figures and although there was a slight rise in reported crime, the trend is going downwards.

"Redditch and Bromsgrove are two of the country's safest places to live. And at the moment things are looking good."