VIOLENT crime in Dorset fell by nearly seven per cent between April and December, according to the latest figures released by police.

A meeting of Dorset Police Authority today heard that vehicle crime, criminal damage and violent crime all continued to fall during the first nine months of the 2007 operational year.

Violent assaults resulting in injury fell by 11.8 per cent between April 2007 and December 2007, meaning 487 fewer such crimes - falling from 4,116 between April 2006 and December 2006 to 3,629 in the same period in 2007. The total number of violent crimes has fallen by 6.7 per cent.

Dorset also remains one of the safest areas in the country for life threatening' and gun crime, and is the safest in the south west, including Hampshire.

Theft of vehicles fell by 17.2 per cent, with 178 fewer crimes, down from 1,033 between April 2006 and December 2006 to 855 for the same period in 2007.

Theft from vehicles also fell, by 9.6 per cent, with 282 fewer crimes, down from 2,947 between April 2006 and December 2006 to 2,665 for the same period in 2007. This means that total vehicle crime fell by 11.6 per cent, with 460 fewer incidents.

Total criminal damage fell by 5.9 per cent - down from 9,349 incidents between April and December 2006 to 8,802 for the same period in 2007 - with criminal damage to residential properties, other buildings, vehicles and other criminal damage offences all falling.