The substantial drop was accompanied by further falls in gun and knife crime, including a 21% fall in fatal stabbings. According to the figures, backed by the British Crime Survey (BCS), the risk of becoming a victim of crime remains at a 30-year low.

The latest news contradicts predictions by Home Office criminologists who feared that financial pressures brought on by the recession would exacerbate crime and create social conflict.

The long-term fall in crime rate since 1995 is now one of the longest on record. Keith Bristow, from The Association of Chief Police Officers, says: ‘The latest recorded crime statistics and British Crime Survey results show police and community safety partners are making communities safer.

‘Police recorded crime figures for the 12 months to December 2009 show a reduction of 7% annually, while the BCS shows the risk of being a victim of crime is at the lowest level in almost 30 years.' In terms of anti social behaviour, the only area that has seen an increase is ‘noisy neighbours'.