Crime in Hertfordshire has fallen for the seventh year running figures released by the police show, but some crimes are on the increase in Stevenage and North Herts.

Overall crime in the county fell by five per cent in the year to March 2011, Herts Police said, while levels remain significantly lower than the national average.

Burglary fell by six per cent, vehicle crime by nine per cent, violent crime was down eight per cent and robbery fell by two per cent. Overall there were 3,500 fewer reported victims of crime in the county than the previous year, the force said.

Chief constable Andy Bliss said: “These are very good figures that build on several continuous years of crime reduction. We never forget that behind crime statistics are real people and real victims. It is good to know that these figures mean that the number of victims of crime in the county is continuing to fall.

“I’d like to thank the officers and staff of Hertfordshire Constabulary, as well as our partner agencies, for their hard work and focus on driving down crime and pursuing criminals in our county. We will continue to work hard this year to keep people safe.”

In Stevenage overall crime fell by 3.9 per cent, with 273 fewer crimes reported, while in North Herts it was down 0.2 per cent, a fall of 13 crimes.

While vehicle and violent crime fell in both areas, there were 26 more burglaries in North Herts year on year - a 7.2 per cent increase, and sixteen more robberies in Stevenage, a rise of 27.6 per cent.

Overall figures year on year:

Stevenage:

Burglary: -1.8 per cent (five fewer)

Violent crime: -12.1 per cent (213 fewer)

Vehicle crime: -5.9 per cent (32 fewer)

Robbery: +27.6 per cent (16 more)

North Herts:

Burglary: +7.2 per cent (26 more)

Violent crime: -1 per cent (12 fewer)

Vehicle crime: -5.5 per cent (39 fewer)

Robbery: -42.3 per cent (22 fewer)