Lincolnshire Police saw 8,918 violent crime cases reported in 2007/08, compared to 9,746 cases the previous year.

This contributes to overall crime rate reduction of eight per cent from 55,217 cases in 2006/7 to 51,102 in 2007/08.

Chief Constable Tony Lake said the message is that crime in Lincolnshire is down and detections are up.

He said: "That is excellent news for the people of Lincolnshire and a great tribute to the commitment of the staff who, despite the current funding situation, continue to provide a top quality service."

The statistics also show reductions in crimes such as house burglaries, robbery, wounding and common assault, vehicle thefts and criminal damage by 10 per cent, beating Lincolnshire’s target of nine per cent.

The county force has also achieved its aim of beating the target of detecting one in four of all crimes reported. Their detection rate for the last year was 28 per cent, an improvement of two per cent on the previous year.

Mr Lake said: "When you make longer historical comparisons, the gradual, but sustained improvement demonstrates just how well the force has served the county since 2003/04.

"Despite our resourcing difficulties, we are making progress in the satisfaction rates reported by the public we serve."

However, the force is still not quite meeting its aim of satisfying seven out of ten people it deals with by keeping them informed of the progress of their enquiry.

Mr Lake added: "The performance statistics give a taster of what we can achieve if we are appropriately resourced.

"We are awaiting the outcome of the consideration by the Department for Communities and Local Government of our bid to increase funding. We continue to be the lowest funded force per head of population in the country.

“The Government have declined to provide extra funding for the force hence Lincolnshire Police Authority's decision to vote for an increase which will provide the resources to wipe out our increasing debt and provide the platform to raise our performance to 'excellent’."

The government is currently considering plans to cap the proposals by the police authority to increase its share of council tax by 79 per cent.

l What do you think of the figures and the performance of Lincolnshire police? Write with your views to Editor, Sleaford Standard, 28 Handley Street, Sleaford NG34 7TQ or email john.lavery@jpress.co.uk