POLICE say the fear of crime among people in County Durham is out of proportion to the number of offences committed.

According to the last British Crime Survey, the county ranks second in the country for the level of concern about the risk of falling victim to crime.

Yet the actual number of recorded crimes is the seventh lowest of all forces and has been steadily falling for some time.

Senior officers are trying to find out why there is such a difference between the public's perception and what they say is the reality of the situation.

Last year, house burglaries fell by more than 23 per cent to 3,083 and car crime dipped by three per cent, while Durham's overall detection rate of 34 per cent was England's second highest.

The force says it has a record number of officers on the streets and that a revamp of its structure will provide more over the next two years.

Deputy Chief Constable Jon Stoddart said that fear of crime was "wholly disproportionate'' and there was no simple explanation.

He said: "Over the last decade the Durham force has prided itself in achieving some of the biggest falls of crime in England and Wales.

"But that is something our public do not appear to fully appreciate.

"The elderly feel particularly vulnerable and it is vital we identify ways of reassuring them, and other more vulnerable members of our communities, more effectively.

"People need to feel safe in their homes and at ease when they walk the streets.''

Mr Stoddart said the annual total of street robberies, 287, was one of the country's lowest, but was a major anxiety.

Chairman of Durham Police Authority, Joe Knox, said: "This is one of the safest areas of the country to live and work in and we hope the public can take some reassurance from that.''

The Durham Agency Against Crime runs a wide range of activities and initiatives to divert young people from getting involved in crime.

Executive manager Tim Wilson said: "I don't think crime is as bad as people think but I would still highlight the fact that a fear of crime is an awareness and it can be good if people take sensible precautions against crime.''