CRIME fell by ten per cent across North Yorkshire last year.

Government figures show that in the 12 months up to December 2012, there were almost 4,000 fewer victims of crime in the county than in the previous year.

The figures from the Office of National Statistics show there were 36,050 crimes. The biggest reduction was in the amount of robberies committed, there were 76 less robberies than in the previous year, down to 118.

There was also a 14 per cent reduction in burglaries, ten per cent reduction in theft, seven per cent reduction in violence, 12 per cent reduction in offences involving vehicle motor vehicles, 14 per cent reduction in criminal damage and 13 per cent reduction in drug offences.

However the number of sexual offences recorded increased by one per cent, which North Yorkshire Police said was a “positive reflection of the confidence victims have in North Yorkshire Police” as some of these were historical complaints.

Fraud and forgery crimes increased by 21 per cent, as there were 221 more incidents of this type of crime, totalling 1,280 during 2012.

Tim Madgwick, temporary chief constable of North Yorkshire Police, said crime had continued to fall this year.

He said: “At this very point in time, Home Office data shows that North Yorkshire is ranked the lowest crime area in England.”

Julia Mulligan, the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, said: “The latest crime figures are very encouraging and provide a key indication that North Yorkshire Police and local partner organisations are working together very well.”