Eastern region crime falls by 5%

The crime rate in the East of England fell by 5% in the past year, making the region the safest in England and Wales to live and work, new figures show.

The East of England had the lowest rate of all recorded crime out of the ten regions according to the British Crime Survey (BCS).

The region also has some of the lowest rates of violence, burglary, theft and car theft.

The East region includes Beds, Cambs, Essex, Herts, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Rated 'excellent'

The actual amount of recorded crimes fell from 505,260 crimes in 2003/2004 to 481,963 in 2004/2005.

The survey also found wide differences in the way people rated their local police forces.

All counties in the region saw burglary and theft from cars fall, but violent crime increased by 33% in Hertfordshire and by 14% in Bedfordshire.

It found that while 60% of people rated Suffolk Police as "excellent" or "good" - 11% above the national average of 49% - Bedfordshire Police scored only 41%.

A number of projects were highlighted by the report:

North Bedfordshire Community Safety Partnership's Bed:Safe scheme tackling town centre problems.

Peterborough Business Against Crime, which was launched in January 2000 as a response to crime which hit small to large businesses, is a thriving group five years on with over 900 members.

The Safer Thurrock Partnership in the Gardener Avenue area of Corringham has been tackling anti-social behaviour and nuisance youths.

Hertfordshire Police's Operation Tarantula has seen a 26% reduction in vehicle crime.

Norfolk Police's Operation Enterprise has seen officers working with the local council and five service to help Norwich city centre become a safer place to visit.

Suffolk Police's Operation Taurus has campaigned to take drug dealers off the streets.