The latest crime stats reveal a reduction in all recorded crime across Kent and Medway.

From October to December last year compared to the same period in 2007 there was a fall of just under six per cent.

The Home Office figures show criminal damage is also down by 15 per cent, that is 1,168 crimes (from 7,707 to 6,539 crimes).

But the number of drug offences shows an increase of 22 per cent (198 offences) and fraud and forgery crime rose by 9.6 per cent (105 offences).

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge said: 'We are pleased to see from these figures that crime is still reducing in the county, but we will not become complacent. We will continue working to reduce levels of crime even further.

In Medway, drug and fraud crime is on the up, but most other crime, including violence and burglary offences, continue to fall.