CRIME is falling in Cambridgeshire, but we need the public s help to really make a difference. Crime figures always attract attention and, as with all statistics, there is a risk that they may be misinterpreted, misunderstood or deliberately abused. I wa

CRIME is falling in Cambridgeshire, but we need the public's help to really make a difference.

Crime figures always attract attention and, as with all statistics, there is a risk that they may be misinterpreted, misunderstood or deliberately abused.

I want to clarify the position in Cambridgeshire because crime is falling and we are solving many more crimes.

It remains the case that you are very unlikely to be the victim of a serious crime in this county.

We experienced the largest reduction in violent crime in England and Wales last year.

Within that statistic the number of attacks committed randomly by strangers is very low indeed.

Many serious personal injury crimes involve victims and offenders who know each other for one reason or another. The highest risk victims (and offenders) remain young men.

Of course, people should always be aware of their safety and they should take common sense precautions.

But as the annual results I published recently (using data approved and accredited by independent auditors) demonstrate, crime in Cambridgeshire has fallen substantially in the last year, with 6,855 fewer offences compared to the previous 12 months. Overall, Cambridgeshire is a safe - and very pleasant - county to live in.

What most people I speak to want is a responsive and effective police service when they need our help and a safe neighbourhood within which to live.

That is what we are working hard to achieve, as consistently as possible. Policing is a complex and difficult job. We get it right most of the time. We learn and improve all of the time.

My staff have been busy locking up criminals and helping bring successful prosecutions in the last 12 months. Our detection rate has jumped so that we are solving more crimes while the number of crimes continues to drop.

I am driving a programme of positive and proactive policing, which is all about making life uncomfortable for people who commit crime.

Soon, each neighbourhood in the county will have its own dedicated policing team, with someone who can be contacted at any time about local issues.

You will also be able to help decide local policing priorities for your neighbourhood. To help achieve this we are recruiting more community support officers and freeing up officer time so that our staff can focus on front line duties.

To achieve even more success in the fight against crime we always need public support. We have recently been focusing on drug crime with great success.

With every address we raided we issued postcards to people living nearby, asking if anyone could give us more information or help with our investigations. By helping us you are making this county safer for everyone. If you have information dial 999 if it is urgent, call us on 0845 4564564, or if you want to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

JULIE SPENCE, Chief Constable, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdon