When Operation Safer Streets II was first announced, robbery in the West Midlands had just risen by more than 17% and was threatening to get out of control.

Tactics deployed

Use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition software to track criminals' cars High-profile uniformed presence on buses New system of computerised identity parades Use of CPS lawyers specialising in robbery Warning known robbers by letter Cracking down on false reporting

The front pages of local papers, like the Wolverhampton Express & Star, would be regularly splashed with horrific pictures of pensioners who had been beaten and robbed in their own homes.

In March there were 1,322 robberies and muggings in the county, which includes the conurbations of Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Dudley and Coventry.

But that figure had fallen to 962 by August.

West Midlands Police had managed to turn it around so that the number of robberies was now falling and arrests rising.

Hundreds of arrests

More than 2,187 people were arrested and, of those, 1,320 have been charged and 122 are awaiting the result of identity parades.

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sims said he was "delighted" with the results achieved.

He said: "These have been brought about by the huge effort of officers working on robbery teams and sectors all over the West Midlands, who have been responsible for carrying out operations against some of our most prolific offenders, in particular using detailed intelligence and analysis information."

He said the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts had also played an important part: "As well the increased 'fast tracking' of offenders through the courts there have been many examples of long deterrent sentences which have undoubtedly acted as a warning to others.

Cora Leo, 99, who was attacked in Wolverhampton

"For example, in Wolverhampton a man accused of 66 serious offences appeared before the crown court within weeks of being arrested and was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment.

"In another incident, two masked raiders who attacked an elderly newsagent and his son, stealing just 10 packets of cigarettes, were sentenced to eight years imprisonment."

Tricks of the trade

West Midlands also used other tactics to get the message through to the local underworld.

They wrote letters to known offenders who had just been released from jail and warned them they were keeping an eye on them.

Juveniles are believed to be responsible for 38% of street crime, and are frequently the victims of mobile phone and other muggings.

So West Midlands not only beefed up its truancy patrols but encouraged local authorities to introduce summer holiday schemes.

This not only kept prospective victims off the streets but prevented "the Devil finding work for idle hands".

False reporting

But another significant factor in the reduced figures was the reduction in fraudulent reporting of crime.

Research by officers in Coventry showed that up to 20% of robberies were fictitious.

Supposed "victims" sometimes claimed items had been stolen for insurance purposes, or simply to explain the loss of an expensive item to a parent or spouse.

West Midlands issued a warning that anyone caught making false reports would be prosecuted.

They have already issued three separate individuals with �80 fixed penalty notices for false reporting.