And communities in the Peterlee policing area have been praised for helping to drive down the figure by becoming more vigilant.

Peterlee Police statistics issued for the period between April 2007 and March 2008 have seen a drop of 16.9 per cent in overall crime – 988 fewer victims of crime compared to the year before.

This amounts to 1,874 fewer victims over two years, from 6,725 in 2006, to 5,839, last year to 4,851 for the most recent trend.

The 16.9 per cent figure fares better than the Durham Constabulary as a whole, which saw an overall 10 per cent reduction in crime.

There were 313 fewer victims of violent crime in the last 12 months, with 1,183 in 2006-07 falling to 870 in 2007-08. This represents a 26.5 per cent drop.

Inspector Paul Harrison, of Peterlee Police, said: "We have worked with the local population in encouraging people to take more responsibility for the security of their own property and I think by reducing opportunities for offenders to commit crime we have actually reduced total crime."

There were 371 fewer victims of criminal damage, with the number dropping from 1829 in 2006-07 to 1458 in 2007-08.

Vehicle crime has fallen over the same period, with 121 less attacks on cars from 650 to 529.

And thefts from vehicles are down from 407 to 276. This is a 32.2 per cent fall.

Shoplifting offences have fallen 28.4 per cent from 299 to 214 and house burglaries are on the wane by 13 per cent, from 300 to 261.

Peterlee has seen a 21.1 per cent crime reduction, while crime in Horden has decreased by 14.1 per cent. Blackhall and Wingate's rates fell by 23.5 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.

However, Wingate has seen a 6.9 per cent rise in thefts from motorvehicles and a 13.5 per cent increase in damage to motorvehicles.

And house burglaries rose by 14.9 per cent in Horden.

Insp Harrison added: "People are now more aware of the need to reduce crime opportunities and I think that has enabled us to target our efforts on offenders who are motivated to commit crime and ensure they are brought to justice.

"It's a joint effort and I class these figures as not figures whereby the police have reduced crime by 16.9 per cent, it's very important the district as a whole, including the partner agencies and the public especially have all worked together over the last year to get this excellent decrease in crime."