The British Crime Survey showed crime in the Derbyshire Dales has dropped by nine per cent in the last year and the district had the lowest car theft figures in Britain.

In 2007/08, 27 crimes were recorded for every 1000 Dales residents compared to an average for England and Wales of 113 recorded crimes per 1000 residents.

Safer Derbyshire Dales Community Safety Partnership welcomed the findings and said it proved efforts to cut crime were working.

Ch Supt Roger Flint said: "I am pleased the crime rate in the Derbyshire Dales is so low. Good performance is greatly assisted by the excellent community safety partnerships in this area."

"Whilst overall performance is very good, we are not complacent and are confident we can do even better," he said.

Partnership chairman Cllr Lewis Rose said: "It is great news that our crime levels are so low.

"I am proud the efforts of the police, the district council and our other partners are succeeding in making the Derbyshire Dales such a safe place to live, work and visit," added Cllr Rose.