RECORDED crime in the St Albans district fell by 13 per cent in the past year, according to the latest figures released last week.

The British Crime Survey revealed that there were 562 fewer incidents of crime in the district between April 2010 and March 2011.

House burglaries fell by 19 per cent and there was also a drop in sexual offences and vehicle thefts.

But there was a slight rise in the number of robberies with 63 incidents recorded compared to 54 last year.

Across the whole of Hertfordshire, recorded crime fell by five per cent with around 3,500 fewer victims of crime in the county compared to last year.

Chief Constable Andy Bliss said: “We never forget that behind crime statistics are real people and real victims.

“It is good to know that these figures mean that the number of victims of crime in the county is continuing to fall.”