MORE crime is being detected and significantly less is being committed in Leiston and surrounding towns and villages, new figures have revealed.Over the past year from April to April, recorded crime in Suffolk Constabulary's Leiston sector, which includes the towns of Framlingham, Saxmundham and Aldeburgh, has dropped by 16%.

MORE crime is being detected and significantly less is being committed in Leiston and surrounding towns and villages, new figures have revealed.

Over the past year from April to April, recorded crime in Suffolk Constabulary's Leiston sector, which includes the towns of Framlingham, Saxmundham and Aldeburgh, has dropped by 16%.

Meanwhile detection rates for crime have gone up by 6.5% in the sector, taking it to more than 48% or almost half of all recorded crimes and making it the best performing sector in the Suffolk force.

In 2001/2002, there were 1,784 crimes recorded, while in 2002/2003, that figure dropped by 285.

Sector Commander, Insp Ian Moore, put the figures down to teamwork, and close co-operation with communities.

He said: "It's a significant drop in crime and a significant increase in detection rate. The challenge now is actually to maintain that drop in crime and continue to improve our detection."

Areas where they had made progress was car crime, he explained. More visible patrols and monitoring of car parks had resulted in almost 100 less offences.

"The officers here they know what the problems are, they target the problems at the relevant times", he said.

They were helped by a "very, very active crime prevention panel" and neighbourhood watch schemes, he said.

"It's great really. I think there's a good community spirit. We can always improve on that. We can't do this by ourselves," Mr Moore added.

Each parish now had a dedicated community police officer, but Mr Moore felt their impact would be felt in the next 12 months.

"It's a safe county and it's a safe sector, but people don't always feel that. Hopefully by giving the community police officers people feel more reassured by that," he said.

"I have been here six months now. A lot of good work has gone on before me and I'm hoping to build on it."