A BUSY Christmas and New Year saw police in Dorset arrest nearly a third more people for violence, antisocial behaviour and public disorder than in 2006.

But Dorset's Chief Constable Martin Baker attributes the rise in arrests to early intervention and said an intensive campaign this Christmas has led to significant reductions in many categories of crimes.

Between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day, the number of people arrested for violence, antisocial behaviour and public disorder rose by 32.1 per cent from 209 in 2006 to 276 in 2007.

More serious and injury-related violent crime fell by 13.7 per cent during the month of December, down from 402 offences in 2006 to 347 in 2007. Total violent crime fell by 0.6 per cent.

At the same time, home burglary fell by 19.4 per cent - from 134 in December 2006 to 108 in December 2007 - following a force-wide action against thieves targeting people's homes.

Theft of vehicles fell by 44.9 per cent, from 138 in 2006 to 76 in December 2007.

Thefts from vehicles also fell by 17 per cent from 305 to 253.

And there was a 14 per cent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads, down from 28 in 2006 to 24 in 2007.

There was also a 13 per cent reduction in the number of breath tests that were positive, failed or refused between December 1 and January 1 - from 198 the previous year to 173.

Police said that even more people called them last month to "shop" suspected drink drivers.

Mr Baker said: "We are very grateful to all those members of the public who heard our advice and helped us to cut crime over Christmas and the New Year period.

"For our part officers have continued to take proactive steps to reduce crime and this is reflected in the increased arrests that were made."