CRIME - like unemployment - is on the slide in Teignbridge and the rest of the south west, annual figures have revealed.

Police in Devon and Cornwall say healthy reductions have been reported in burglaries, public order offences, vandalism, vehicle crime and theft.

Nearly 4,000 fewer crimes were recorded in 2015 compared to the previous year, a drop of five per cent, making the region the third safest in the UK.

The encouraging picture showed a 12.4 per cent drop in public order matters, vehicle crime crashed by 11.4 and theft 12.8.

Criminal damage was bashed down by 6.6 with burglary dwellings falling by 17.7 and non-dwellings 15.8.

In line with the national trend, sex offences showed an increase. Rape was up by 14.8 and other sex offences by 13.0.