POLICE chiefs in Waveney this week hailed new figures, which have shown a fall in crime and “significant decreases” in a number of key areas.The Journal can today reveal that crime has been cut by 2.

POLICE chiefs in Waveney this week hailed new figures, which have shown a fall in crime and “significant decreases” in a number of key areas.

The Journal can today reveal that crime has been cut by 2.2pc in the Waveney district in the past year.

The latest statistics show that between April and September, there were 4,487 recorded crimes in the district, compared to 4,592 incidents reported in the same period in 2007.

Countywide, there was also a pleasing picture in the battle to crackdown on crime with Suffolk recording their lowest figures in seven years.

This week's figures come four months after The Journal revealed that Waveney was the best performing district in Suffolk in 2007/08.

And while Detective Inspector Darrell Skuse admitted to being “pleased” with the latest results, he warned that more hard work was being done in the battle to beat crime.

As well as there being 105 fewer victims of crime in the last year, house burglaries are significantly down from 170 recorded incidents between April and September last year to 124 this year - 46 fewer.

“We are very pleased that these latest figures show a decrease in crime and significant decreases in several of the key categories including house burglaries down by 27pc and vehicle crime down by 32pc,” Det Insp Skuse said.

“The overall decrease of 2.2pc means there are 105 fewer victims of crime this year compared to last and there have been 46 fewer house burglaries.

“It is also pleasing to note that our detection rate remains good - above the target of 32pc and also over the force average of 33.55pc,” he added.

As well as crime levels falling across the county, the number of crimes solved by Suffolk Constabulary has risen - with 8,049 crimes solved, which is an extra 499 crimes compared to the same period in 2007/08.

But despite the encouraging figures, DI Skuse revealed there is more to be done locally.

“We know there is always more work to be done, and that figures mean nothing if you have been a victim of crime,” he said. “Officers are continuing to work towards targeting the small number of prolific offenders who cause misery, inconvenience and expense for others and we are dedicated to improving the service we provide to victims and witnesses.”