THE number of victims of burglaries helped by an East Lancashire victim support group fell by ten per cent over the past 12 months but figures for violent crimes were up.
The changes were reported to members of Burnley, Clitheroe and Pendle Victims Support Group during their AGM in Nelson.
Chairman Ann Firminger said overall the number of people referred to the group by the police was slightly down on the previous year.
House burglary victims were down by 411, from three quarters of the group's cases to 65 per cent but there were increases in crimes such as assault, sexual assault and robbery.
Victim support co-ordinator Gordon Coyles, in his annual report, said: "With the continuing volume of cases the pressures placed on staff and volunteers to meet their needs is becoming increasingly difficult.
"We continue to seek new recruits to our team of visitors which currently numbers 27.
"Not all are always available to take calls for a variety of reasons and we have those who have been on long-term leave due to illness and temporary work commitments. "We are grateful to the volunteers who have taken more than their fair share of calls."
During the year the group offered help to 4,532 victims and their families and passed a further 108 victims on to schemes in other parts of the country.
The largest number of victims helped by the group were in the age group 21 to 30 with a fairly even split overall between men and women.
The highest number of cases were in Burnley - 2,151 - although the number was down on the previous figure of 2,371.
Overall, last June had the highest number of referrals - 487 - compared to other months.
The group passed on £157,000 from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority to 66 victims of crime.
The AGM was held at Pendle Training Group, Nelson, and attended by the Mayors of Pendle and Burnley, Councillors Colin Waite and Eric Selby.
The group is based in Cow Lane, Burnley, telephone 01282 455955.
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