IT'S official - North Yorkshire Police is better at fighting crime than any other force of its type.

Officers in the county have seen a 7.5 per cent reduction in crime so far this year, according to a police authority report.

The force has already far exceeded its own target of 3.3 per cent for 2007/2008.

Figures show North Yorkshire Police is top of its "most similar forces" group, which ranks it in comparison to other forces of a similar size and geographical make-up, with just 16.052 crimes per 1,000 of the population.

They are also top of their league for the number of crimes they solve - with a detection rate of 33 per cent.

Violent crime is down by 4.2 per cent across the county compared to last year.

Again, North Yorkshire Police it top of its group, with 3.2 violent crimes per 1,000 of the population, 67 per cent of which are "detected" or solved.

Domestic burglaries are already down by 12.3 per cent compared to last year, against a target of 13.9 per cent.

According to the report: "If good performance continues, the 2008/2009 target will be achieved by the end of 2007/2008."

But the detection rate is just 15.60 per cent, ranking the force seventh in its group.

Car crime is still proving to be one of the biggest problems for police in the county.

It has reduced by almost a quarter (24.5 per cent) against a target of 20.5 per cent, but the force is still ranked fifth in its group.

But just seven per cent of all car crime in the county is detected - leaving North Yorkshire bottom of the group in this respect.

Criminal damage is down by 10.7 per cent so far, against a target of six per cent and are again top of their league in this area.

The target is to reduce all other crime by two per cent by the end of this year, but so far there has been an increase of eight per cent.

The report states: "This is partly due to an increase in the number of drug offences. Policing of drugs tends to be more proactive, therefore any increase should not automatically be seen as negative."

The good news is more of this type of crime is being solved - with a detection rate of 75 per cent against a target of 60 per cent.

The figures will be considered by North Yorkshire Police Authority's planning and policy board at a meeting on Monday.

Crime figures

  • Overall crime - down 7.5 per cent
  • Domestic burglaries - down by 12.3 per cent
  • Violent crime - down by 4.2 per cent
  • Car crime - down by 24.5 per cent
  • Criminal damage - down by 10.7 per cent