THE total number of crimes in Darlington has fallen by almost 18 per cent since this time last year.

And Chief Superintendent Michael Banks said officers in the town were now detecting 30 per cent more offences than they were last November.

He said: "Darlington is one of the best performing areas within Durham Constabulary."

Chief Supt Banks was speaking at Darlington Police Community Consultative Group meeting, in Branksome School, on Wednesday.

Members of the public heard there had been a 50 per cent drop in robbery, an eight per cent fall in violent crime, a 31 per cent reduction in car theft and a 53 per cent decrease in thefts from vehicles.

Chief Supt Banks said: "We live in a very safe area, one of the safest in England. Apart from domestic violence, the average person is unlikely to be the victim of violent crime."

He said officers were trying to disrupt the supply of hard drugs to communities and a recent operation involving 400 officers had led to the arrests of 19 suspected dealers.

But one woman said: "They seem to be doing something about the drug dealers but they don't seem to be doing much about the little things that affect people like the violence. You can call the police all you like but nothing seems to get done."

Chief Supt Banks said officers had to attend incidents in order of priority.