By Nick Griffiths Crime Reporter

Last updated 19:04, Friday, 16 May 2008

CUMBRIA’S chief constable has hailed his constabulary as one of the best in the UK after figures showed an across-the-board fall in crime.

Pleased with effort: Craig Mackey

The number of reports of robberies, car crimes, violent offences and anti-social behaviour all dropped in the 12 months up to March.

Craig Mackey said recorded burglaries and car crimes had fallen to a 15-year low.

He praised the dedication of his officers and civilian staff and said better intelligence gathering, community policing and the help of the public had played its part.

“The figures highlight the real successes of officers and staff working with communities in Cumbria,” he said.

“We are going to report 3,300 less crimes last year. If you look at burglary and vehicle crimes, they are at 15-year lows. That is a real effect. We’ve had over 970 more offences detected and 7,500 less anti-social behaviour incidents.

“That puts Cumbria as one of the best performing forces in the country.”

The statistics, listed in an annual performance review of Cumbria Constabulary, showed:

a 23.9 per cent drop in robberies;

a 17.5 per cent reduction in thefts from vehicles;

a 23.5 per cent fall in thefts of vehicles;

a 14.5 per cent drop in incidents of anti-social behaviour;

a 1.4 per cent reduction in violent crime;

an eight per cent fall in house burglaries;

a 19 per cent fall in raids on sheds, schools and businesses.

Overall crime fell by 8.4 per cent, from 38,403 offences in the 2006/07 financial year to 35,163 during the following 12 months.

Mr Mackey said: “There has been a whole range of things – much better use of intelligence, good scenes of crime support and the support of communities among them.

“We can’t say one thing has done this.

“But taken collectively, they’ve had a huge impact.”

Mr Mackey added the forthcoming recruitment of extra officers and civilian staff, as well as moves to further free up bobbies from bureaucracy, would help build on the results.

A force restructuring last year which saw officers drafted into new roles to tackle serious crime.

Nearly two weeks ago, Cumbria led an operation to seize cocaine with a street value of £15million.

“That is certainly a job of national significance, led from Cumbria,” said Mr Mackey.

“We have real capabilities and capacities to tackle serious and organised crime that would rival any in England.”