RECORDED crime has fallen further in Cumbria than in any other part of England, according to Home Office figures released this week.

Although recorded crime statistics fell by an average of 0.2 per cent in England and Wales, Cumbria recorded a drop of 13.4 per cent - a fall of more than 60 times the national average.

The figures, which apply to the 12-month period ending September 2000, show a total of 34,453 crimes were recorded in Cumbria, 5,322 less than in the previous year.

Cumbria bucked other key trends, including the rise in violent crime against the person which stands at 11.6 per thousand population nationally and is only nine per thousand population in Cumbria.

Mike Smith, spokesman for Cumbria Police said: "Over the April to September period of 2000, violent crime fell by around 25 per cent in Cumbria."

The violent crime clear-up rate in Kendal and Barrow was the highest in Cumbria where 85 per cent of crimes were solved, compared with the national average of 63 per cent

Cumbria Constabulary Chief Constable Colin Philips said: "Cumbria Constabulary has continued to reduce crime over a number of years and we are particularly pleased by our performance in the latest set of figures."

He added that working closely with the community, coupled with an intelligence-led approach to crime, had contributed to their performance.

Home Secretary Jack Straw has issued a statement on the statistics in which he said: "I pay particular tribute to South Wales and Cumbria police forces which both showed the largest falls in recorded crime over the period.

They are among 26 police force areas in England and Wales to achieve a fall in recorded crime in the 12 months to September, 2000."