Reported crime fell by 6 per cent in the Westcountry last year, despite above-average rises in sex and drug offences, Home Office figures show.

A further survey of victims, by the British Crime Survey, has ranked Devon and Cornwall Police second in England and Wales in terms of public satisfaction.

Annual government figures yesterday revealed large drops in the number of thefts of vehicles and offences relating to fraud, forgery and criminal damage in the two counties.

There was also an 8 per cent reduction in burglary, compared with an average national increase of 14 per cent.

However, double-digit drops in violent crime across parts of the South West were not mirrored in the region generally – with 20,000 offences recorded for the second year running.

Senior officers blamed the 6 per cent rise in sexual offences – which bucked a downward national trend – on increased reporting of domestic violence and a rise in alcohol abuse.

A similar rise in drug offences, also against a negative trend, was attributed to "more proactive drug operations" and increased co-operation from the public.

Assistant Chief Constable Debbie Simpson told the Western Morning News there were areas to "maintain effort" but insisted they should not overshadow the "good overall record".

She said: "I would be disappointed if we didn't recognise that staff had worked very hard and we are now second in terms of satisfaction and the third safest place in England and Wales.

"Drugs are an unusual issue because you tend to detect it through proactive operations and the more you do the more you find, which does tend to drive our own figures up."

Ms Simpson said the trend-bucking increase in sex offences was because the force was "better at encouraging people" to report offences through initiatives such as sexual assault referral centres.

She added: "Some of it will be historic – some people will have a traumatic experience and report things which have happened years previously."

The force's 6 per cent decrease in overall crime compares with 5 per cent in the South West region and 4 per cent nationally – the third lowest in England and Wales.

The survey of public satisfaction showed 67 per cent of those questioned by the British Crime Survey said the force was doing a good or excellent job in their area.

There were anomalies in the percentage figures, which the force blamed on changes within smaller numbers of offences – an overall 3 per cent drop in robberies in Devon and Cornwall broke down into a 17 per cent drop in Plymouth, and a 31 per cent rise in Cornwall.

Ms Simpson said budget reductions of £49 million over the next four years would not dent performance and denied the latest figures represented a "high point".