The Isle of Man Constabulary is claiming a significant reduction in the levels of recorded crime for 2007 to 2008.

Headline figures in the end of year crime performance report include an overall detection rate of 56 per cent - almost double the rate for England and Wales - and a 25 per cent increase in the number of arrests, compared with the average for the past three years.

Police say the success is partly down to the effectiveness of the Neighbourhood Policing Teams, and a pro-active approach to arrests for certain alcohol-related offences.

Chief Constable Mike Langdon (pictured) says the figures show the Isle of Man as a safe place to live, work and visit.

Graham Bell reports (text, below, from attached audio file):

Police claim recorded crime fell substantially in virtually every category, with fewer instances of criminal damage, vehicle crime and public order offences. There was also a fall in the number of assaults, after succesive rises in recent years.

But the Constabulary says one of the biggest successes has been a dramatic reduction in the number of burglaries. There were 161, representing a 27 per cent fall against the three year average.

Arrests for drug-related offences showed an increase of ten per cent over the past twelve months, and a rise of 52 per cent against the average for three years.