CRIME rates across Lancashire have dropped by as much as 13 per cent over the last year, the latest figures have revealed.

The data, which was released by the Office for National Statistics, also shows a 10 per cent reduction in violent crime, such as assault.

The most significant reductions in the county saw a 45 per cent drop in theft from a person, and a 40 per cent reduction in firearms offences.

The figures also show a 16 per cent reduction in burglary as well as a fall in violence against a person resulting in injury, which includes ABH and GBH and criminal damage.

Peter Lawson, Assistant Chief Constable for Lancashire Police, said: “These findings highlight Lancashire Constabulary’s dedicated work over the past 12 months with increases in neighbourhood policing, targeting cross-border crime with a number of significant arrests and convictions.

“Behind the figures today lie real people with over 1,500 fewer victims of residential burglary and over 3,500 fewer victims of assault with injury. They are great news for Lancashire and reflect the hard work that has gone into keeping people safe and feeling safe in the county.”

As well as an overall fall in crime, there has been an increase in reports of modern slavery, with 41 more cases than the same time last year.

The force has attributed this rise to its drive in tackling human trafficking and modern slavery.

Mr Lawson added: “We are a leading force in the country on dealing with modern slavery and we have done a lot of work in the past 12 months on this subject which has in turn improved public confidence in reporting these crimes to us.”

The county’s police and crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw praised the force.

He said: “I welcome the news that crime has been cut significantly in Lancashire over the last 12 months with a 13% drop in the total recorded crimes year on year. This comes at a challenging time for the police locally and reflects the hard work that has gone into making Lancashire a safe place to live and work.

“These figures are good news for Lancashire and shows how through continued investment we are able to see positive changes.

“The people of Lancashire consistently tell me that they want the police to focus on violent crime, the fact that it has reduced significantly is testament to the hard work that has gone in.

“I commend the hard work of Lancashire officers.”