THE number of crimes reported in Redditch has dropped by almost a quarter, new figures have revealed.

Redditch police attribute the 20 per cent drop in reported crimes to targeting persistent offenders and hot-spot areas, gathering intelligence and better community relationships.

The figures represent crimes reported between April and October.

The south-west sector as a whole had seen a 40 per cent fall in reported crime during the same period.

Chief Insp Angela Burnet said: "We are pleased to see crime across Redditch continues to fall and we will continue to work with our partners and the community to bring it down further."