NORTH Wales Police produced their best ever performance figures during the last financial year, according to the Chief Constable's report to the Police Authority's Performance Review Panel.
The figures show a 12.5% reduction in the number of recorded crimes compared with last year, which means there were 7,712 fewer crimes in the force area.
This percentage decrease is among the highest in England and Wales, putting North Wales Police in fourth position out of the 43 polices forces.
The force also has the third highest detection rate at 41.9% - the national average is 28%.
In real terms this means that 22,582 out of a total of 53,865 reported crimes were detected.
The force also recorded a significant reduction in many crime categories, including burglary of dwellings, robbery, vehicle crime, theft and handling, arson, drug offences, criminal damage, fraud and deception.
The only significant rise was seen in violent crime. The rise of 9.2% mirrors the national increase.
North Wales Police now ranks third within its family of similar forces for recorded crime and second for the detection rate. The Audit Commission has awarded North Wales an excellent grading for its recording and North Wales Police is the only force in England and Wales to have received an excellent grading from the HMIC for crime recording in the past two years.
Deputy Chief Constable Clive Wolfendale said: 'This has been a highly successful year for North Wales Police, with unprecedented falls in burglary and vehicle crime.
'Our aim is to improve the quality of life for people who work and live in North Wales or who visit the area. These figures are the result of hard work by committed officers and staff and are proof positive of our successful efforts to achieve our aim.'
