CRIME levels are falling in Droitwich.

That was the message from

the Spa's top policeman when he gave his annual report to the town council.

"It's good news for Droitwich. Generally, it is a low crime town," said Inspector Steve Brooker, who overseas policing in the town.

Out of every 1,000 Spa residents, only 58 were victims of any kind of crime in the last year.

He said the total amount of crime had fallen, as well as decreases in burglaries and vehicle crime, but he admitted violent crime had increased by four per cent.

Insp Brooker said that violent crime appeared to have increased because of a change in the way it is measured by the Home Office, to include violence in the home. But he added the general trend in violence was one of a downturn.

Councillors had a chance to discuss crime problems in the town with Insp Brooker, and Councillor Graham Gopsill (Lib Dem-Central) said: "Kids have always hung around in groups. We did it when I was young, but I think the difference now is that the groups are intimidating because they swear constantly."

He also brought up the problems residents have had on Ombersley Street West with late night revellers causing havoc as they make their way home at the weekend.

Insp Brooker said: "I hoped it had died down a bit because we haven't been receiving as many calls. We have tried to do what we can about it."

Cllr Gopsill suggested they had not had as many calls because residents had got fed up of ringing the police every time it happened and not getting a response.

Cllr Roy Seabourne (Lab-West) was keen to congratulate the police on all their hard work and for reducing crime in the town.

But he stressed the importance of providing somewhere for young people to go and said that could solve the problem of big groups of youths 'hanging around' on street corners.