CRIME in Suffolk fell to its lowest level in three years in 2006-7 - despite violent and sexual offences rising.The British Crime Survey, released by the Home Office yesterday, revealed that a total of 30,401 crimes were committed in the county in the last financial year.

CRIME in Suffolk fell to its lowest level in three years in 2006-7 - despite violent and sexual offences rising.

The British Crime Survey, released by the Home Office yesterday, revealed that a total of 30,401 crimes were committed in the county in the last financial year.

It is the lowest figure of all counties in East Anglia and also compares favourably to previous years with 31,033 crimes recorded in 2005-6, 30,614 in 2004-5 and 30,992 in 2003-4.

However violent crimes against the person increased by two per cent since last year from 10,017 to 10,190 (15 offences per 1,000 of the population) while the number of sexual offences has risen by 6pc from 662 in 2005-6 to 699 in 2006-7 (one per 1,000 of the population).

Robbery offences remained the same at 271 while burglaries were down by 13pc.

Detective Chief Superintendent Stewart Gull, head of crime management at Suffolk police, said: “We are very pleased with our performance, where overall crime is down by over 3pc. Included within these figures is a substantial decrease in house burglary by more than 12pc.

“The drop in crime means that people in Suffolk are even safer and are feeling safer. Initial analysis shows that in Suffolk, people's fear of becoming a victim of burglary or a victim of car crime is among the lowest in the country.”