CRIME in Herts dropped over a three-month period, new Home Office figures revealed today (Thursday) The period between July and September last year saw a reduction of 13 per cent in the county. Ian Laidlaw-Dickson, chairman of the Herts Police Authority,

CRIME in Herts dropped over a three-month period, new Home Office figures revealed today (Thursday)

The period between July and September last year saw a reduction of 13 per cent in the county.

Ian Laidlaw-Dickson, chairman of the Herts Police Authority, described the figures as "encouraging".

But chief constable Frank Whiteley said that despite the drop in crime the constabulary would not become complacent.

In Herts during the three-month period, there was a drop of 36 per cent in violent crime; 23 per cent in sex offences and 24 per cent in robbery.

There was a 6 per cent reduction in vehicle crime after seeing an increase in previous months.

Drug offences, however, did increase by 22 per cent which showed increased police activity in targeting drug dealers and drug users.