Crime in Kent is dropping, according to crime statistics released today (Thursday).

Nationally there had been concerns that the economic crisis would see people turning to crime, but that appears to not be the case.

The Home Office says that between April and June 2009 overall crime fell by more than 12 per cent.

Burglary has fallen and car crime is down by just under 18 per cent.

The number of reported drug offences also fell by 12.6 per cent.

Kent Police's Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge said: "We take the distribution of drugs and drug use seriously in this county and across the channel.

"We are not complacent however and we are using policing combined with education to tackle drugs throughout the county."

Violent crime also dropped by 7.4 per cent as did knife crime, down a significant 37 per cent.

Criminal damage has also reduced by more than 20 per cent.

Kent Police say much of this is down to their Neighbourhood Task Teams, launched in September 2008.