CRIME in Dorset is at a 13-year low with Chief Constable Martin Baker reporting a four per cent fall in offences in the last year.

Anti-social behaviour has also gone down, as has the number of people killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads.

Vehicle crime, gun crime, and lesser violent crime all fell in the year to the end of March 2011.

But serious violent crime, robbery, dwelling burglaries and serious sexual offences have all increased.

The figures were presented to members of the Dorset Police Authority at a meeting yesterday.

Mr Baker told the members: “I am particularly pleased to report on the continued good work and significant achievements of all divisions.”

He said an 8.5 per cent increase in serious violent crime equated to 24 additional offences and added: “While highly impactive on individual victims, this represents a very small number of offences in terms of our ability to prevent their occurrence.”

Mr Baker said public place violence had decreased and added that a marked increase in recorded domestic violence “reflects the thoroughness of the approach taken by the force in respect of this issue.”

A total of 44,067 incidents of anti-social behaviour were reported, 8.1 per cent less than last year, and more than 20,000 people took part in Driver Awareness Scheme courses.