Crime levels are lower for the Derbyshire Dales than almost anywhere else in England, according to new Home Office figures.

The national crime statistics, published last week [Thursday 17 July], show that the Derbyshire Dales has only 27* crimes recorded for every thousand residents - and few districts in the whole of England have a lower crime rate than that.

Figures also showed that the Dales has the lowest crime rate in Derbyshire. The county average of 48* crimes per thousand residents is itself much lower than the national average. Overall crime in the Derbyshire Dales is down by 9% compared to a year ago.

The figures were welcomed by Derbyshire Dales District Council. Councillor Lewis Rose OBE, Chairman of the Safer Derbyshire Dales community safety partnership, said, “It is great news for people living and working in the Derbyshire Dales that our crime levels are so low. People in the Dales are much less likely to be a victim of crime than people elsewhere in the country. I am proud that the efforts of the police, the District Council and our other partners are succeeding in making the Derbyshire Dales a such a safe place to live, work and visit.”

The Home Office figures also show that the Derbyshire Dales has the lowest rate of vehicle theft in England and Wales (at only 1 theft per thousand people). Dales residents are also the least likely in England and Wales to be a victim of a robbery – there were only 11 such offences in the Derbyshire Dales last year, which works out at approximately 0 per thousand people.

Chief Superintendent Roger Flint, police commander for the Dales and High Peak, added, “Police in the Dales believe in working with the community to reduce crime. I am pleased that the crime rate in the Derbyshire Dales is so low. Good performance is greatly assisted by the excellent community safety partnership arrangements in place in this area. Whilst overall performance is very good, we are not complacent and are confident we can do even better. Together with our partners we are continuing to develop our Safer Neighbourhood Teams at a local level.”

Burglaries in the Dales also fell last year, to only 2 per thousand people – the second lowest in England and Wales. House burglaries were cut by 32% in the last year, one of the biggest reductions nationwide.