NEW national statistics today reveal Merseyside has experienced the UK’s biggest drop in crime over the past three years.

According to official figures, the region has recorded 57,171 fewer victims of crime since April, 2006.

The Government’s national crime statistics reveal a 7.2% reduction in total crimes recorded in the region and Merseyside Police beating the 5% national average decrease.

The April 08 to March 09 figures, however, show recorded robberies were up by 0.9% – an increase of 15 offences from 1,671 last year to 1,686 in the 12 months before March this year.

Police responded to this saying there were initiatives in place to bring robbers to justice quickly, as well as extra deployment of officers in key areas.

There was also a big increase of almost 20% in drug offences, from 12,627 last year to 15,102 in the 12 months before March.

Police said the spike showed that more people were being dealt with for possessing illegal substances.

Merseyside Police also highlighted its “sanction detections”, which showed the biggest increase in offenders being caught, charged, cautioned or summoned across all the big city forces in the UK.

Assistant Chief Constable Helen King said: “These latest figures provide great news for people who live and work in Merseyside and show the area is getting safer. Even with many more people visiting the region in the past year for Capital of Culture, the number of people becoming victims of crime has continued to fall and we are determined to do everything we can to ensure this remains the case.

“Merseyside Police aims to deliver the best police service in the country and is one of the first forces in the UK to have introduced the national Policing Pledge setting out our commitment to high standards.