CRIME is continuing to fall in north Kent, according to the latest government figures.

Statistics released today(July 15) show the number of crimes recorded between April last year and this March dropped by 16.2 per cent from the same period the previous year.

The Home Office figures reveal a total of 15,237 crimes were recorded in north Kent, which is down 2,949 from the figure of 18,186 for April 2008 to March 2009.

Kent police’s Detective Chief Inspector Simon Thompson, who is based in north Kent, says the statistics are “very encouraging”.

He said: “What is most pleasing is that this massive drop in crime is on the back of year-on-year reductions. Since 2005 north Kent has seen a reduction in overall crime of just over 38 per cent.”

The figures show violent crime has fallen by 14.7 per cent from 3,933 to 3,354 offences, while burglary is down by 18.8 per cent from 1,903 to 1,545.

Vehicle crime fell 33.3 per cent from 2,703 to 1,803 offences and criminal damage is down 19.6 per cent from 3,738 to 3,007 offences, but drug offences rose one per cent from 727 to 734 offences.

Convictions for crimes committed during the period include the jailing of 31-year-old Steve Sargent after he attacked a shop-keeper with a bottle during a robbery on February 26.

Sargent, of Franklin Road, Dartford, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to robbery.

Another success was 29-year-old Dean Sheppard, of Howard Road, Dartford, being sentenced to two years and four months in prison after admitting assault causing GBH.

Sheppard punched a 22-year-old in the face during a brawl in Gravesend town centre on October 3 last year, causing a double fracture of the jaw.