Violence and burglaries reduced

Serious crime has fallen in Surrey after police started responding to the public's concerns, figures show.

Police statistics show a 27% fall in violent crime and a 12% reduction in burglaries and vehicle crimes, compared with the previous year.

The number of people saying they were satisfied with the way officers dealt with their reported crimes increased from 80% to 82%, said police.

Some 61% of people had confidence in local policing, up from 50%.

Deputy Chief Constable Craig Denholm said: "Last year we boldly changed our focus from chasing central targets to putting the Surrey public first by tackling their biggest concerns and dealing proportionately with more minor issues.

"Today's results endorse this decision. We have met our top priorities to ensure local people are confident in policing and victims are satisfied with how we deal with crime.

"With reductions in violent crime and home burglary we are targeting the public's most important issues and making them even safer."

Operation Shield was also launched last year to protect Surrey from criminals from outside the county, who commit 40% of burglaries and vehicle thefts.