RECORDED crime across Devon and Cornwall continues to fall, new figures announced recently revealed.

Overall crime between January 1, 2013 and December 31 that year fell by 2.6% — a reduction of 2,235 crimes.

The force has continued to see reductions in dwelling burglary, (down 8.6%), non-dwelling burglary, (down 11.7%), and vehicle offences, (down 14.3%), and criminal damage, (down 9.8%).

Despite the reductions, the region has seen some areas of crime rise, including violence without injury, (up 13.1%), public order offences, (up 18.4%), and sexual offences, (up 11.7%). The new figures come at the same time as historic national figures which relate to crime in Devon and Cornwall to the end of September 2013.

Devon and Cornwall deputy chief constable Bill Skelly welcomed the continued fall in crime, but acknowledged the figures also showed areas needing further understanding and action.

He said: 'Crime figures are just one way in which we monitor our performance in order to make our communities safer. These figures show Devon and Cornwall remains a safe place to live, work and visit.

'However, reducing crime and making our communities safer is not just about having low crime figures. We know there are areas where we can work with partners and improve people's quality of life which might not be reflected in crime statistics.

'A small rise in crime in some areas does not make Devon and Cornwall less safe, but none the less, we have to constantly observe crime trends to reduce offences and work with our partners to deal with the root cause of them as soon as possible.'

The summer period saw a rise in crime in some areas with more than 10 million people estimated to have been in the Devon and Cornwall region at times — compared to a resident winter population well below two million.

Deputy chief constable Skelly added: 'There is no doubt that summer policing is a challenge for the force with no extra resource, but there are other things we need to focus on with partners in terms of health, well being and looking at reducing the causes of crime.

'Alcohol is undoubtedly a factor in a large proportion of crime and looking at how and why people drink and then become involved in with the police, NHS and other agencies is critical. 

'We estimate alcohol to be involved in at least 35 per cent of violent crime, so the consumption, licensing and selling of alcohol is having a huge impact on the communities of Devon and Cornwall.

'There is no doubt that violent and sexual offences are aggravated and at times caused by alcohol, and that it also impacts heavily on areas such as domestic abuse.

'Helping and protecting vulnerable people in our communities is hugely important. Communities are also being blighted by offences such as shoplifting and bilking, which although they might be on the lower scale in terms of financial value, have a huge impact on small business.'