CRIME figures in New Milton and district were low during during the Christmas and New Year period, police sergeant Dave Tanner told town councillors.

On Monday he described the previous 40 days as "peaceful and quiet".

There were just five house burglaries, three on North Milton Estate, one in Manor Road and the other at Milford-on-Sea. Of those one was a theft from a porch and the other was damage to a door lock, but the burglar failed to get into the property, he said.

However, there were 15 burglaries at commercial premises and 58 garage burglaries in blocks at Aston Place, Ashley Road, Ashley Crossroads and Deans Court, Milford, though in many cases no property was stolen.

Two cars had been stolen and 19 entered, while eight bicycles had been taken.

The Pub Watch scheme, has proved successful with just two offenders arrested over the Christmas period.

There had been 29 reports of antisocial behaviour and criminal damage, mostly in and around the town centre and recreation ground. "The behaviour of the people and the type of reports that we are getting now are less serious than those we used to get," said Sgt Tanner.

There had been a spate of damage to beach huts at Barton and at Milford on the weekend of December 22/23 and just 14 reports of antisocial behaviour from the North Milton Estate.

The big success story was at Ashley recreation ground where in October police were getting complaints about youth misbehaviour at the rate of almost one a day.

But a two-month purge by police, PCSOs, ACSOs aided by the detached youth worker led to the details of the antics of 50 young people being sent to their parents. In addiion, one antisocial behaviour contract was given to one offender.

Police also carried out an alcohol test purchase operation in the area to see if any shops were selling drink to under-age people.

"I'm pleased to say all the premises in the town and Ashley area passed the test," said Sgt Tanner.