Police figures reveal 11 per cent drop in crime

Crime levels in the Thames Valley have dropped by more than 11 per cent, annual figures show.

Between October 2010 and September 2011 there were 159,496 offences recorded within the force area compared to 179,496 during the same period in 2009/10.

The reduction of 19,873 crimes is the second largest recorded in England and Wales, and well above the four per cent national average reduction.

Violent crimes, sexual offences, robberies and drug offences all decreased at a rate higher than the national average.

Violence against the person with injury offences fell by 24.7 per cent and those without injury by 19 per cent - the largest and second largest reductions respectively in the country.

The number of sexual offences recorded fell by 13.8 per cent, robbery offences by 4.1 per cent, domestic burglaries by 3.8 per cent and drug offences by 2.9 per cent.

The only area where Thames Valley Police experienced an increase in offences was in the 'other theft offences' category, which has seen an increase of 801 offences, from 45,887 to 46,688.

Chief Constable Sara Thornton said: "I am extremely proud of the work that has been done by the officers and staff of Thames Valley Police, which has led to one of the largest reductions in crime of any force area in the country."