CRIME has been slashed by a quarter in six years as police say they are winning the war to make our streets safer.

Across West Mercia, which includes Worcestershire and Herefordshire, 60,627 crimes were recorded in 2012/13 compared to 81,347 in 2006/07, a fall of 25.5 per cent.

Compared to six years ago, there were more than 20,000 fewer crimes reported.

On average there are 166 crimes a day, including eight burglaries, across three counties.

In South Worcestershire, which includes Malvern, there were 1,774 fewer crimes in 2012/13 than there were the previous year.

The number of robberies fell from 110 in 2011/12 to 89 in 2012/13.

Violent crime also saw a dramatic fall, 20 per cent, from 1,615 to 1,470 crimes, 145 fewer incidents.

Deaths or serious injuries on our roads in the south also fell, from 77 to 69. However, burglaries rose slightly in the south,from 706 to 707.

Anti-social behaviour fell by 5.5 per cent in South Worcestershire with 755 fewer such incidents in 2012/13 than 2011/12.

Herefordshire saw a dramatic fall in road deaths and serious injuries from 75 to 49, a fall of 35 per cent.

The county also saw falls in overall crime (4 per cent), robbery (15 per cent), violence against a person (6 per cent) and incidents of anti-social behaviour (8per cent).

However the county saw a 14 per cent rise in burglaries from 289 to 330.

West Mercia Police’s Chief Constable, David Shaw, said: “Crime levels are falling across the region and the country too.

“I would like to highlight the efforts of the public, whether they give their time as volunteers such as special constables, street pastors or with Neighbourhood Watch.

On average, one burglary a day occurs in Herefordshire and four in Worcestershire.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia, Bill Longmore, said: “I’d like to thank the staff for their continued commitment to keeping communities safe, despite the great financial challenges we face.”