THE number of race-related crimes in the borough has decreased, but only slightly.

Between April last year and March, 2001, a total of 142 racial incidents involving 158 victims were reported to Bury police, down just two on the previous year.

Action was taken against 88 people with nine offenders going before the courts. Of those dealt with, 40 people were white, four were Asian and 37 were of unknown ethnicity.

The victims were made up of 52 Asian and 51 white residents with the remainder from other ethnic backgrounds including black, Pakistani and Indian.

A total of 26 racial incidents were carried out by gangs with just over half involving groups three to five strong.

Other figures show that there were four race related allegations against local police officers.