Overall crime in Kent has plummeted.

Figures released today by the Home Office show crime in the county has fallen by 11.8 per cent between April 2009 and March this year - that's 14,000 fewer crimes in Kent and Medway.

The figures show a a 5.2 per cent fall in the number of house burglaries, working out at 7.6 burglaries per 1000 households.

But knife crime has taken a nosedive - dropping by 30 per cent, or 170 fewer crimes.

Gun crime reduced by 29 offences, a fall of 31.2 per cent, and criminal damage has dropped by 18 per cent, or just over 5,000 crimes.

Violent crime has also seen a reduction, with 10 per cent fewer crimes, or 2,870 incidents.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Brandon said: "As a force, we are extremely pleased that the past 12 months has seen a continuing overall reduction in crime, and we will continue to tackle the priorities that the people of Kent have set.

"We want to reduce crime and anti social behaviour even further over the next year.

"We have made great progress and we want to continue to do so, despite the difficult financial climate that we will face in the year ahead."

But it's not all been good news. Drug offences rose by more than five per cent, an increase of 211 crimes, and there were more than 400 sex offences, an increase of one on last year.

Bike thefts rose, with 50 more crimes than last year - an increase of 2.6 per cent.