POLICE are more likely to solve crime in Dorset than in many other places in the country, new figures out today reveal.

Dorset Police has been placed 13th out of the 43 forces in England and Wales when it comes to sanction detections. This is when someone has been charged with an offence and either cautioned, fined or reported for summons.

It also covers offences which are taken into consideration by a court.

Home Office statistics comparing the period April 2006 to March 2007 with the previous year show crimes solved by Dorset Police increased from 28.5 per cent to 29.1 per cent.

The national average among forces for crimes solved is 25.7 per cent.

The increase has led to the force being placed just outside the top 10 of all forces for solving crime. It leads all the police forces in the south and west of England.

Figures released earlier this year showed that burglary and vehicle crime in Dorset is at a 10-year low.

The head of CID for Dorset Police Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Glanville said: "Residents can feel confident that they live in one of the lowest crime areas in the country and there has never been such a high probability that criminals in the county will be caught and brought to justice."