Home Office figures show total recorded crime in Leicestershire fell five per cent between 2006/07 and 2007/08.

Meanwhile crime statistics for Melton Local Policing Unit have shown a reduction in the number of recorded offences from April to June last year (900) compared to the same period this year (796).

Reductions were seen in the categories of violence against the person, robbery, house burglaries, criminal damage, theft from vehicles, other theft and other offences.

But there were rises in reported sexual offences, theft of cycles, burglary other than dwellings, theft and taking without consent.

Melton police inspector Nigel Peters said: "My focus is still on domestic burglary and vehicle crime and we will continue to work to reduce that."

* Police in Leicestershire received another boost recently after hearing the number of people in the county who feel their police do an excellent or good job is higher than the national average.