BEDFORDSHIRE Police Authority has revealed there were 5,749 fewer victims of crime in Bedfordshire and Luton during the in the twelve month period ending March 31 compared to the previous year. Home Office figures show Bedfordshire Police to be impro

BEDFORDSHIRE Police Authority has revealed there were 5,749 fewer victims of crime in Bedfordshire and Luton during the in the twelve month period ending March 31 compared to the previous year.

Home Office figures show Bedfordshire Police to be improving in 13 out of 16 key areas.

Overall crime figures show an 11 per cent drop in 2008-09 compared to 2007-08 and illustrate that local issues are being addressed. This is particularly noticeable in areas such as criminal damage where there was a 14 per cent decrease (1,421 less recorded incidents) and a 21 per cent drop (236 fewer victims) in 'theft from the person' which is in direct contrast to the national picture where there has been a 25 per cent increase.

There was a recorded increase of 30 per cent (130 recorded incidents) in sexual offences, which Authority members accepted was due to a proactive campaign to address problems such as kerb crawlers. Equally, there was an anticipated rise in the number of drug offences due to a force-wide focus on drug offenders. This focus has seen the detection rate for such offences rise to 94.2 per cent.

The overall detection rate has risen to 26.3 per cent in 2008-09 from 22 per cent in 2007-08, which means the Force has risen to 30th out of the 43 Police Forces in England and Wales.