CHESHIRE is one of the safest areas of the country to live in, according to new figures published by the Audit Commission.

The figures compare the performance of police services across England and Wales in a number of key areas.

And they show that Cheshire experiences only 64.8 crimes per 1,000 people, compared to a national average of 85.

Criminals are also caught more frequently in Cheshire than in most other regions, with 31.9 per cent of crimes detected by primary means, the national average being 24 per cent.

These figures give Cheshire the third highest clear-up rate of any police service area in England and Wales.

The detection rate for violent crimes is particularly high in Cheshire, with 87.5 per cent detected by primary means, compared to a national average of 76 per cent.

In the key performance indicators on crime, Cheshire consistently performs above the average for the country as a whole.

The service also performs well on value for money, with policing for the county costing £94.10 per head of population compared to a national average of £109.11.

Mr Nigel Burgess, Cheshire's Chief Constable, said he was delighted with the report's findings.

He said: "The Audit Commission publishes performance indicators in order that the public can see for themselves how well their local police are serving the community.

"These figures show that the people of Cheshire are being well served by our officers.

"Crime levels in this county are low and we have had a good measure of success, reducing crime by around 25 per cent over the past four years and increasing the detection rate."

Mr Burgess added: "We have achieved this by working closely with the public in a community partnership against crime and by investing wisely in our operational equipment, in officer training and in our support staff.

"We will continue to look for improvements in our performance in the year to come and do everything in our power to ensure that the quality of life of Cheshire residents improves as our communities become safer from crime."

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