CRIME levels in Fenland fell by almost 20 per cent last year, annual figures have revealed.

Statistics produced by the force for the year ending March 31 show there were 5,186 crimes in 2012/13, an 18.6 per cent drop on the year before when there were 6,369.

In the past year, there have been significant falls in crime categories including vehicle crime (down 27.7 per cent), assault with injury (down 21.3 per cent), criminal damage (down 11.5 per cent), theft and handling (down 19.2 per cent) and arson (down 17 per cent).

But the number of burglaries (up 5.3 per cent) and robberies (up 6.8 per cent) increased slightly.

Assistant chief constable Mark Hopkins said: “The force has undergone significant changes in the past two years so I am very pleased that we have maintained our focus on tackling crime.

“It is particularly pleasing to see more than 1,100 fewer victims of crime in the past year, and in offences such as assault and criminal damage, that can have such an impact on victims.

“These reductions in crime have also been achieved in a challenging economic climate when the assumption might be that crime would rise.

“However, we will not be complacent. The financial constraints on the force continue and it is our priority to ensure Fenland remains a hostile place for criminals.”