Crime in Suffolk has fallen, according to the latest annual performance figures.

And, during the same period, the number of crimes solved by Suffolk Constabulary has increased.

The figures relate to 2007/08, comparing performance with the year before.

They show the following:

• Overall crime dropped by 5.4% (to 48,330 crimes), which is 9.5% or 5,100 crimes less than 2003/04 (the first year of the present counting rules) and is the lowest level for at least seven years.
• Violent crime fell by 6.8%.
• Vehicle crime fell by 9.7%.
• Criminal damage fell by 6.7%.
• Burglary (dwelling and non-dwelling) fell by 2%
• The detection rate improved by more than 2% to 30.2%. In total, 14,594 crimes were solved – an extra 271 compared to 2006/07.

There was a slight rise in house burglaries of 4.6% (78 offences) during 2007/08 - but this is still 26% lower than the level in 2003/04.

The number of drug offences recorded has also increased by 5.8%, which is a reflection of the Constabulary’s pro-active approach to drug enforcement.

Suffolk’s Chief Constable Simon Ash said: “I am extremely pleased with this positive set of figures.

“They show a sustained, long-term improvement in the safety of Suffolk – and reflect the dedication and commitment that the officers and staff of the Constabulary have shown during a particularly challenging period.

“In addition, partnership working and an increased presence of community policing, brought about by the introduction of the Safer Neighbourhood Teams, is not only helping to reduce crime, but is also tackling the fear of crime in the county.

“Now we need to build upon this solid foundation in the coming year as we aim to deliver the best possible service to the communities of Suffolk."

Police Authority Chair Gulshan Kayembe added: “It is the Authority’s job to ensure that local people receive a quality policing service, by monitoring the Constabulary’s performance.

“These latest figures show that the Constabulary is performing well in making our county even safer, against an extremely challenging financial backdrop.

“We will continue to monitor progress in the year ahead – not just in terms of reducing crime but also the quality of service provided for local people and how safe they feel.”