CRIME has fallen in Cambridgeshire with more than 3500 fewer victims last year, annual figures have revealed.

Force statistics for the year ending March 31 have revealed there were 56,620 crimes, a fall of about six per cent on the year before when there were 60,143 crimes.

It was a similar story for burglary, vehicle crime and robbery figures, which all fell compared to 2009/10.

As the number of offences fell, the number of crimes being detected rose. There were 16,947 detections last year compared to 16,104 the year before, meaning 843 more offenders were brought to justice.

Chief Constable Simon Parr said: “These figures show that despite the economic downturn and the reductions to our budget, we are continuing to successfully tackle crime.

“It is particularly pleasing to see anti-social behaviour reduced by more than 5000 incidents - that’s 5000 fewer victims - and significant reductions in crimes which can have a massive impact on victims, such as burglary and robbery.

“However, we must not be complacent and we will not let up in our efforts to drive down crime.

“We are facing financial challenges in coming years but these will not prevent us from making criminals’ lives difficult. It is my aim to make them fear crime, and its consequences, not members of the public.”