CRIME in Dorset is at a 12-year low with thousands fewer crimes being reported to police.

Figures to be presented to the police authority later this week reveal a reduction of more than six per cent with even bigger drops in violent crime and anti-social behaviour.

Car crime is also falling and the number of people killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads has fallen by more than 13 per cent.

The figures cover April to December 2010 and are compared with the same period the previous year.

“I am particularly pleased to report on the continued good work and significant achievements of all divisions,” said chief constable Martin Baker.

“Dorset Police continues to attract one of the highest public confidence levels in the country – the combined efforts of all our officers and staff with our partners have helped to achieve this performance to make Dorset safer and feel safer.”

The first nine months of this financial year saw 34,951 crimes and 34,802 incidents of anti-social behaviour.

Crimes included 222 incidents of “most serious violent crime” and 3,197 assaults with less serious injury. There were 448 serious sexual offences, 1,475 burglaries, 183 robberies and 2,939 vehicle crimes.

More than 700 missing persons were reported to police, there were 5,264 reports of domestic violence and 436 hate crimes. The most common type of anti-social behaviour was rowdy, nuisance or inconsiderate behaviour, which accounted for 20,203 complaints.

A total of 14 people were killed on Dorset roads with 200 serious injuries and 11 serious injuries to children. The number of fixed penalty notices issued rose by a fifth to 17,348.

Dorset Police Authority members will also hear of proposed cost-cutting measure when they meet on Friday. Up to 248 police jobs could be cut to compensate for a budget shortfall.