CRIME in Cambridgeshire in the past year has fallen by seven per cent, according to figures released by the Home Office.

CRIME in Cambridgeshire in the past year has fallen by seven per cent, according to figures released by the Home Office.

There were 54,732 offences in the 12 months to the end of June this year, compared to 58,873 the previous year, with significant drops in criminal damage, burglary and vehicle crime.

Offences of robbery dropped by nearly a quarter – from 712 robberies to 543 – while domestic burglary, vehicle crime, fraud and forgery and criminal damage all fell by double-figure percentages.

The only rise was in drugs offences, by 30 per cent, from 2080 to 2694.

Police attribute the increase to the force’s continued proactive work to tackle the production and supply of drugs in the county.

Chief constable Simon Parr said: “These Home Office figures are very encouraging and recent force figures show we have continued to head in the right direction since June.

“They clearly demonstrate our commitment to tackling crime, despite the challenging financial climate and the fundamental changes the force is currently going through.

“It is particularly pleasing to see significant reductions in robbery, burglary and vehicle crime because they have an impact on so many victims.

“However, we will not be complacent and our drive to put the fear of crime into the criminals will continue.”