RECORDED crime across Tavistock has reduced substantially in the last year, according to figures announced last week.

Tavistock town has seen a fall in recorded crime by 22.8% between April 2014 and March 2015, Tavistock rural west a fall of 30.6% and Tavistock rural east a decrease of 13.1%.

Throughout the Tavistock areas last year the recorded crime was 924 but this year the total has dropped by 203 crimes.

Acting police sergeant for Tavistock Tom Henry said: 'It is very pleasing to see a decrease in crime, it reflects the hard work of local officers, staff and partner agencies who have helped achieve these results.

'We will continue to work hard to ensure that we maintain a high level of service to our communities by finding solutions to local issues, reducing and preventing crime and bringing offenders to justice so that West Devon remains one of safest and most desirable places to live, work and visit.'

Overall reported crime in West and North Devon has dropped between April 2014 and March 2015 from 8,646 to 8,084. Callington and Stoke Climsland has also dropped by 15.5% and Calstock has seen a fall of 37.2%.

All together, crime in Devon and Cornwall has also reduced by 5.2% — 4,417 fewer crimes.

During the same period victim based reported crimes reduced by 5.9%.

The force has seen a number of reductions in areas including burglary (down 9.7%), vehicle crime (down 10.4%), criminal damage (down 5.7%) and theft (down 12.3%).

Historical figures from the Office of National Statistics, also released last week, show that Devon and Cornwall had a 4.3% fall in total recorded crime (excluding fraud) between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014, compared to the same period the previous year.

Deputy chief constable Bill Skelly said: 'This is a commendable achievement by officers and staff who have been working incredibly hard over the last 12 months and shows that Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly continues to be one of the safest places to live in the country.

'We are doing everything we can to reduce crime while ensuring victims have the best support, exemplified by our newly launched Victim Care Unit.'

Devon and Cornwall Police's figures show a rise in reporting of sexual offences (up 20.1%) in the past 12 months. DCC Skelly said: 'Victims are central to everything we do. As a police force we focus on the crimes that have the most adverse impact on people's lives.

'In the past, domestic abuse and sexual offences have traditionally been significantly under reported to police. In partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner we have continued over the last 12 months to encourage victims to come forward to police.

'These areas remain to be a high priority for the force and we hope that an increase in sexual offences figures show that victims have more confidence in reporting these crimes.

'Overall, the fall in reported crime is encouraging and this is down to the excellent work of officers and staff who continue to rise to these challenges to keep our communities safe especially under the tightening financial restraints.'