CRIME in York has been slashed by more than eight per cent in the last 12 months.

The number of incidents recorded by police fell in all major crime groups, according to new figures released today.

Figures for April 1, 2006, to March 31, 2007, show an 8.1 per cent reduction in total crime in the city compared to the same period in 2005/2006 - down from 22,787 to 20,951.

Chief Superintendent Iain Spittal, area commander for the central area which covers York and Selby, said: "I am very pleased with the levels of crime reduction achieved over the last financial year.

"As a whole, central area has seen crime reductions of just under eight per cent, that equates to 2,225 fewer victims of crime through the year.

"Crime reductions have been achieved by working in partnership with our partners in the district of Selby and the City of York and, most importantly, with our communities. Neighbourhood policing teams across the central area, supported by other North Yorkshire Police employees and partners, are already working hard to achieve further reductions in this financial year. I look to our communities to work both with their neighbourhood policing teams and our other partners to make both Selby and York even safer."

There was a 1.3 per cent reduction in the number of domestic burglaries recorded, from 1,081 to 1,067.

The number of non-domestic burglaries - which includes thefts from garages and sheds - was down by more than seven per cent.

Car crime, which has been a huge problem from police in York in recent years, fell by 7.5 per cent from 3,841 to 3,554.

Police recorded a 4.6 per cent reduction in criminal damage, from 4,358 to 4,159, and violent crime was down by almost 12 per cent from 4,070 to 3,587. All other crime fell by almost 15 per cent, from 1,705 to 1,451.

In Selby the total number of crimes was down by 7.5 per cent but police did record a 6.6 per cent increase in criminal damage.

However, domestic burglary fell by 15.2 per cent and non-domestic burglary dropped by a staggering 17.3 per cent.

Car crime also fell by more than 10 per cent and violent crime by about 13 per cent. All other crime fell by nearly a fifth. The Press told last week how the number of crimes in North Yorkshire as a whole fell by 7.2 per cent to 54,573 in 2006/2007 - 4,255 fewer than in the year before. Domestic burglary fell by six per cent and sexual offences dropped by seven per cent.