CRIME is down by 25 per cent on last year in the Dursley area, figures have revealed.

Crime statistics for last month show that overall the amount of offences committed in the Dursley Inspector Neighbourhood Area (INA), which includes Cam, Berkeley, Wotton and surrounding villages, is down 25 per cent compared to figures from May 2008.

The figures also show that criminal damage offences have decreased from 59 offences in May 2008 to 31 offences this May, a reduction of 47 per cent.

Inspector of the Dursley INA Alistair Barby said it is important to realise that although people are worried about crime, crime is actually falling.

"I put this down to some good police work and all the other people out there working with the community such as the Neighbourhood Wardens that assist us," said Insp Barby, who joined the station two months ago.

"The perception is that crime is going up, but in fact it is going down. Obviously the perfect crime figure would be zero but this is certainly a move in the right direction.

"Targeted police patrolling in particular hotspots has ensured that these figures continue to fall and a number of people have been arrested for offences of criminal damage."

In May 2008 overall offences totalled 155, however last month 115 were recorded. Violent offences against people have also reduced from 35 offences in May 2008 to 24 offences in the same month this year, a fall of 31 per cent. Violent offences include minor common assaults and domestic crime and Insp Barby was keen to point out that the chances of a person falling victim to a serious violent crime in this area remains very low.

Insp Barby added: "I am very pleased with the figure, however we will not be complacent, we are continuing to work to reduce these figures still further."