BOLTON'S highest ranking police officer is confident that the town's rising tide of Crime has peaked -- and that the crime rate will soon start to fall.

Speaking after Home Office figures revealed increases in the number of robberies, violent attacks and sexual offences, Chief Supt Mel Pelham said Bolton was "no better or worse" than other large towns in the country.

The police chief said a 47 per cent increase in robberies in the town meant police werere investigating more cases. And he admitted that car crime -- which overall comprises one-third of all crimes recorded in the town -- remained a major concern.

He said: "The figures are based on recorded crime. Part of the reason for the increase is that we have a very active robbery unit under which we are investigating many more offences.

"The activity of the robbery squad itself means that more offences are being recorded." Recorded burglary dropped by nearly seven per cent -- from 4,588 cases to 4,286.

"A decrease, meaning less victims, is very welcome but we will not become complacent," Mr Pelham said.

Car crime rose -- with a total of 7,828 cases of theft or stolen cars.

Mr Pelham pointed to partnerships with other crime-related agencies as a major tool to tackle crime.

Action plans for a host of schemes under the Bolton Crime and Disorder Partnership are currently being drawn up.

Mr Pelham added: "Crime in Bolton is no better or worse than other boroughs in the country. Crime is part of the life of a busy area.

"The big issue is not so much the figures but how we are dealing with the offenders.

"The lasting impact will be how we manage the people we arrest, how the courts deal with them and how we work together with other agencies to support offenders.

"Providing the public continue to give us information about their concerns, we will work hard to deal with offenders and thereby, in the medium to long term, the figures will come down."