HUDDERSFIELD is winning the fight against crime.

New figures show that police in the town are beating the burglars and the muggers - making it one of the safest places in West Yorkshire.

The news was welcomed by Clr Ken Smith, who represents Kirklees Council on the county's police authority.

And he congratulated police on their crime-busting schemes.

Clr Smith said: "I'm delighted Huddersfield was the safest place to be in West Yorkshire in the last quarter, up to February. I'm especially pleased that robbery has gone down 51% and house burglary down 40%, compared to the same quarter a year ago."

Vehicle crime also saw a large reduction, with 21% fewer offences.

The only type of crime with a significant increase was that of violence.

But much of the 42% increase was blamed on young men fighting in town centres after drinking.

"The Huddersfield Division also has a lower rate of crime than the average compared to similar divisions in the country, "said Clr Smith.

"However, there is still much to do.

"Although crimes have been reducing, the percentage of offences brought to court saw a dip over the last year.

"Huddersfield's chief of police, Chief Supt Barry South, and his team are pulling out the stops on that aspect. Latest figures show an increase in detection rates."

He said he hoped the introduction of the Police Community Support Officers for street patrol duties would, while immediately reassuring the public, also boost detection rates by freeing police to concentrate on prevention and detection of crimes.

* The number of crimes in Calderdale has plummeted by more than 1,300 over the last year.

The reductions have been in priority crimes, such as robberies, house burglaries and car crime.

From April 1, 2003 to March 31 this year, there have been 1,362 fewer recorded priority crimes.

Robberies have fallen by 22% (64 fewer offences), house burglaries are down 18% (down 559), car theft has dropped 8% (138 down) and thefts from vehicles dropped 17% (601 down).

The figures come just days after the division announced that March this year had been one of the best months in the last decade for burglaries, with 122 offences recorded, the lowest since 1991.

A spokesman said:

"This improvement is not just down to us alone. It has been achieved by working with our partners and the public.'