COUNTY police officers have brought more criminals to book in the last year, according to performance figures released for North Worcestershire police.

The national crime statistics for the year 2002/03 show a continued improvement, since a new recording system was introduced in April 2001.

Although the new database, which logs an increased amount of incidents, makes it impossible to compare statistics before this date, officers are welcoming the division's latest performances.

Detection for violent crime was 67.9 per cent (2,738 detected) compared to 65.4 per cent in 2001 (2,269 detected) and house burglaries were 19.6 per cent (251 detected) compared to 15.4 (193 detected).

Vehicle theft was 26.1 per cent (194 detected) from 23.1 (158 detected) and theft from a vehicle 6.7 per cent (167 detected) compared to 4.6 (95 detected).

The only figure to decrease was robbery which fell from 29.5 per cent (41 detected) to 26.4 per cent (38 detected).

Divisional commander Chief Supt Simon Adams said the recruitment of extra police officers had been one major factor in increasing the division's current detection rates.

"These extra officers are also impacting in areas such as domestic violence and child protection issues," he added.

Within England and Wales, the police's basic command units, of which South Worcestershire is one, are grouped according to similarities in demographic areas.

It ranks 10th in the detection rates amongst 17 in this category, which includes divisions such as the Isle of White.