MALVERN has one of the lowest crime rates in the country according to new crime statistics released this week.

Malvern Community Safety Officer, Jenny Lawrence, said the figures, which are based on crimes per 1000 head of population, meant Malvern was one of the safest places in the country.

"I think Malvern is a safe place and that people do feel safe," she said, "I have never had a youngster say they felt too scared to go out in Malvern.

"Naturally we were very pleased with the results but they won't make us complacent. One burglary is still one too many but as far as fear of crime is concerned, these figures are good for lessening that fear," she added.

In contrast to much of the rest of the country where crime rates have risen, Malvern has experienced a drop in many offences and Inspector Steve Brooker said the figures for the Malvern Hills District Council area were among the lowest.

For example, while figures for the West Midlands region show criminal damage has increased by 18.6 per cent, in Malvern there was a drop of 7.9 per cent.

Similarly for violent offences against the person, which across the region was up by 31.9 per cent, in Malvern it was down by 7.4 per cent.

The number of burglaries in the district has dropped 37 per cent from 62 last year to 39 this year and the figures for motor vehicle crimes such as theft from cars and theft of cars show a 31.5 per cent drop from 232 to 159 this year.

Insp. Brooker said a lot of vehicle crime was drugs related.

"We've been targeting drug crimes and particularly the suppliers," he said.

"Whether that's had a knock-on effect I don't know but where we don't do as well is reducing vehicle crime and so we're now beginning to focus more on that."

Drug related arrests have increased very slightly with police making 18 arrests this year compared to 17 last year.

Robbery and sex offences were among the only crimes on the increase in the district.

There were 22 sex offences this year compared to 14 last year but Insp. Brooker said more people are prepared to come forward and report these offences now than they have in the past.

"As far as the division goes it's the quietest section and we haven't had any rapes this year or last," he said.

He puts the success of the low figures down to the community safety partnership.

"It has played a big part in tackling the causes of crime such as looking at street lighting, safety in car parks, neighbourhood watch, that sort of thing," he said.

"I think the intelligence led policing we do these days where we target persistent offenders works well and the courts are probably a little more severe on things like burglaries. All these things and working with other agencies such as social services and the district councils have combined to reduce crimes," said Insp. Brooker.