Kent police are accused of under-reporting one in ten crimes and of an institutional bias to chasing targets rather than criminals in a damning report published today.

The report follows allegations of irregularities into the way crime was recorded by Kent Police following the arrest of five police officers last year.

Kent crime commissioner Ann Barnes says she is angry and dismayed by the report, which was commissioned after the claims came to light.

It was carried out by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.

It found the force is under-recording approximately one in every 10 crimes, with some victims not getting the service they deserve.

In addition it highlights the process used to "no crime" - where a recorded crime is reviewed at a later stage and then declared a "no crime" - was incorrect in some of the cases reviewed.

It also highlights that in the past there had been an "institutional bias" in Kent towards chasing numeric targets rather than tackling crimes, which may have had a greater impact on the people of Kent.

However, the investigation found no evidence of corruption in the force over crime recording figures.

Mrs Barnes said she wanted all commissioners to carry out an in-depth investigation into their own force's crime recording figures.

She believes this could potentially be a wider issue and one that would have serious ramifications for national crime recording if similar findings are found elsewhere.

She said: "I'm staggered that ten per cent of crimes are not being correctly recorded and it is utterly unacceptable.

"I despair for some of the victims of crime who have been very poorly served, as every single victim of crime should receive a quality service. They must be at the heart of the policing service in Kent."

Responding to allegations of corruption in Kent Police the commissioner added: 'I am comforted that HMIC has confirmed there is no criminal corruption in Kent Police and that this has played no part in any crime recording errors.

"Yet, while not actually breaking the law, it appears that some officers in the past have placed meeting performance targets before tackling crimes that have a greater impact on victims.

"This is not the behaviour I expect from our public servants and I am relieved that this has stopped."

"I'm staggered that ten per cent of crimes are not being correctly recorded and it is utterly unacceptable. I despair for some of the victims of crime who have been very poorly served" - Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Barnes

She added: "The Inspectorate has identified a substantive improvement in Kent Police, following the Force's internal operational reviews in January 2013, and despite the difficult issues raised, I have every confidence that every single member of Kent Police will work positively to make sure that the people of Kent can, in the very near future, trust the Force's crime figures."

The Commissioner has asked Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to return in December 2013 to reinvestigate the crime recording figures and to see what progress has been made.

The Commissioner added: "I will not make a knee-jerk reaction having received these findings as I need to now step back and digest them.

"I have always said this report will be in the public domain and I will be holding a public meeting tomorrow with the Chief Constable and HMIC to discuss this matter further."

A Kent Police statement on the report's findings said the force took a "rigorous approach to crime investigation and victim care."

It said: "We will always provide a first-class service, and put the public, particularly victims and witnesses, first."

It said the force fully accepted the report's recommendations.

Kent Police Chief Constable Ian Learmonth said: "This is a balanced report, one whose findings we take extremely seriously.

"The report will add value to the work we do to protect the public of Kent.

"I am pleased that the report notes many areas of good practice and that HMIC supports the work we have already carried out to address the issues raised.

"I am committed to working with the Police and Crime Commissioner to ensure that we continue to deliver an excellent policing service that the public deserves."