THE Avon and Somerset police force area has seen the second largest fall in recorded crime in England and Wales.

Home Office figures published on Tuesday showed the force had an underlying reduction in recorded crimes of 8.7 per cent in the year ending March 31 compared to the year before - significantly better than the national figure, which showed a 1.4 per cent fall.

It was the sixth consecutive year in which crime has fallen in the Avon and Somerset Constabulary area.

Chief Constable Steve Pilkington said: "The fall in crime is good news for the people who live and work in the Avon and Somerset area and reflects some of the good work that is being achieved by the community safety partnerships.

"Formed under the Crime and Disorder Act, these call on police and other agencies and authorities to work together.

"Community safety is not a job for the police alone and only by working together can we tackle those issues that have a real impact on people's lives."

Mr Pilkington said there was no room for complacency. "I believe getting officers into the community is key to successful crime fighting, and I am determined to do even more to achieve this.

"Under the new geographic policing strategy, locally based officers are bringing together residents, community groups and local agencies to find lasting solutions to local problems."

The number of burglaries in the force area fell by 11 per cent between 1997/8 and 1998/9 — twice the national reduction of 5.7 per cent.

And sexual offences were down 25 per cent, compared to an increase nationally of 2.2 per cent during the same period.

l See Kwinty's Comment on Page 4