POLICE are picking up non emergency calls in less than 30 seconds, according to a report, which says crime rates are falling and detection rates are on the increase, making Cambridgeshire one of the most peaceful places to live in the country.

Sir Graham Bright, who has been county Police and Crime Commissioner for eight months, pledged to make Cambridgeshire a safer place when he took up his post in November last year.

In a report praising the hard work of officers he said he wanted every member of the public to feel like they had “a police officer in their pocket via their mobile phone.”

“I wanted to focus on maintaining visible policing, prioritising the front line and focusing on a service that meets local needs,” he said.

Since being in post he has raised council tax by an average of £3.12 a year per household to provide ten extra officers and has seen positive moves forward in policing in the area.

“Overall crime levels in Cambridgeshire have continued to fall more than the national average...the Chief Constable has made big savings while driving further improvements,” he said.

According to the report there have been 5,200 fewer offences recorded in the last year and there were 27 fewer road accident victims compared to 400 last year.

Rape detection rates have increased to just over one in three compared to one in five while a new major crime unit for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire has strengthened each force’s investigations capability, he said.

The Unit has handed out jail terms totalling around 800 years since launching in April 2012, he said.

New initiatives include encouraging businesses to support their employees as special constables and appointing an engagement outreach worker to help the commissioner learn more about what the public’s needs.