An operation to crack down on house burglaries is reaching the end of its first full year with positive results.

Operation Insight uses predictive policing to combat house burglaries.

Officers identify where future burglaries are most likely to occur, then use a range of tactics to prevent them from happening.

Officers patrol higher risk areas and visit householders near burgled houses to offer advice and reassurance.

There has been a drop in house burglaries to 4,045 between October 2013 and March 2014, compared with 4,483 between October 2012 and March 2013.

Between April 2014 and March 2015 – the first full year of Op Insight – a total of 6,792 burglaries were reported.

Last month alone, 592 house burglaries were reported, compared with 636 in March 2014 and 658 in March 2013.

Force lead on burglary, Chief Supt Carl O’Malley, said: "These results are down to a combination of predictive policing and the hard work of our officers.

"Using intelligence, we can target our resources to areas that could be at higher risk of burglaries, helping us to deter offenders and provide reassurance to residents.

"Burglaries are distressing for the victims and can also be linked to other types of offending, and we are determined to continue driving down these offences and bring those responsible to justice."