NORTH Yorkshire Police have recorded a significant fall in crime in its area.

The force saw crimes fall by 7.5 per cent during the period from April to October last year, compared to the same period in 2006.

The figure beats North Yorkshire Police's reduction target for the period 2007-08 of 3.3 per cent.

The statistic was revealed to North Yorkshire Police Authority's planning and policy board this week.

Violent crime between April and October last year fell by 4.2 per cent, with a 67 per cent detection, or solving, rate.

Domestic burglaries were down by 12.3 per cent over the period, compared to a target figure of 13.9 per cent.

Criminal damage for the six months dropped by 10.7 per cent compared to the previous year.

The figures put North Yorkshire Police top of a mini poll of similar forces in terms of size and geographical make-up.

Bill Baugh, chairman of the planning and policy board, said: "I think it's excellent and we have congratulated the force.

"The police are being well led by the chief constable and they are applying themselves to crime areas and getting the right results.

"They are excellent figures and the people of North Yorkshire ought to be delighted with the reduction in crime.

"We live in one of the safest places in the country, so, if you take that as a starting point, then these figures have got to be good news."

However, the force continues to struggle to combat car crime, with the latest figures revealing a bleak picture.

The force reduced car crime by 24.5 per cent compared to a target figure of 20.5 per cent over the six months from April to October, last year - but the detection rate was only seven per cent.