CRIME has continued to fall in Cambridgeshire with several thousand fewer victims compared to last year, according to the annual figures.

Cambridgeshire police said its figures for the year ending March 31, revealed there were 51,658 crimes in 2011/12 – 8.6 per cent fewer on the year before when there were 56,527.

It added that this also represents a drop of more than 20 per cent in total crime in the past three years. In 2008/09, there were 64,663 offences.

In the past year, there have been double-digit percentage falls in crimes including burglary, robbery, vehicle crime, violent crime and criminal damage.

However, drug offences increased by 25.9 per cent – from 2,378 to 2,994 offences. This is believed to be a result of the force’s ongoing campaign against those supplying and producing drugs.

Chief Constable Simon Parr said: “The force has undergone significant changes in the past year so I am very pleased that we have maintained our focus on tackling crime.

“It is particularly pleasing to see nearly 5000 fewer victims, especially of offences such as burglary and robbery, which cause so much distress.

“However, we are not complacent and I am looking forward to see the force’s restructure bedding in and helping us to improve further. The force still faces significant financial challenges but our commitment remains to improve our performance and make Cambridgeshire a more hostile place for criminals to operate.”