A MASSIVE drop in crime across Huddersfield is down to secret police tactics, it was claimed today.

Dedicated squads using special intelligence have been hitting known criminals.

The teams now know who is committing the robberies, burglaries and car crime across the division.

Units set up to deal with each category of crime mean officers have reeled in more offenders and brought them to justice.

But police are remaining tight-lipped about the methods they use.

Robberies have halved in Huddersfield and burglaries are falling dramatically in the town.

Car crime is also down in the latest figures for the town which cover the last 10 months.

The number of robberies has plummeted by 51% to 155 and burglaries have fallen by 849 - a 43% cut.

Over the same period, 413 fewer vehicles have been stolen - a fall of over a third - and 509 fewer cars have been broken into. This is a 20% drop.

Huddersfield police commander Chief Supt Barry South said: "Very early last year we set up dedicated police teams - one each to deal with the priority crimes of robbery, burglary and car crime.

"These figures show the success we have had."

He said: "The tactics we use are not the norm and I can't go into any more detail than that."

But it is clear the police know who is committing most of the crime, where they live and who they associate with.

"We have made some massive steps forward and now we have to maintain that," said Chief Supt South. Work to stop burglaries has been hugely successful.

Two years ago about 250 were committed in Huddersfield each month.

The figure for December was 77.

Det Chief Insp Tony Craven, head of Huddersfield CID, said: "We have shown month-on-month reductions since last summer.

In December only 53 vehicles were stolen and thefts from vehicles also fell with 147 offences recorded - 30 fewer than the best ever achieved before in the division.

Det Chief Insp Craven added: "We are actively targeting the right offenders and making sure they are pursued through the courts at every opportunity.

"We are checking up on bail conditions to make sure they are being complied with.

"Criminals should now know their behaviour will not be tolerated in Huddersfield.

"We acknowledge it is an ongoing battle, but one we will take to the offenders who are causing such misery for people.

"Making the district a safer place is our priority."

Anyone with information about criminals should contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.