NI murder rate lowest in 20 years

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6340825.stm

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Murder rates in Northern Ireland are at their lowest level for 20 years, the police have said.

Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde told the Policing Board this was because of continuing moves towards peace.

"There's been a normalisation and paramilitary killings have dropped substantially," he said.

"If there is such a thing, there's a more normal murder rate, with domestic violence murders and the Friday night sort, the more routine types of crime."

Sir Hugh said the level of detection and clearance in Northern Ireland could not have been achieved in London.

The former senior Scotland Yard officer put the success down to the PSNI's crime operations branch, which he described as the "jewel in the crown".

He said specially trained teams of officers headed by a senior detective are now available for every murder inquiry.

"That has contributed significantly to what we have achieved," Sir Hugh added.