PUBLIC confidence in Dorset Police is high, according to a new government report.

The latest report also shows overall crime in Dorset falling by 6.1 per cent during the last financial year. Domestic burglary and vehicle crime plummeted by 24 per cent and 20.8 per cent respectively.

The Home Office figures also revealed that violence involving injury to a victim in the county dropped by 13 per cent.

The Police Performance Assessment (PPA) report, by the Police and Crime Standards Directorate, covers the period from April 2006 to March 2007.

It shows violent crime in Dorset falling by 1.8 per cent in that time - the first reduction for seven years.

And Dorset Police beat their 2006/07 target for the number of offences brought to justice.

The PPA report rated the 43 police forces in England and Wales in seven different categories. Each was given points for tackling crime, resources and efficiency, serious crime and public protection, protecting vulnerable people, satisfaction and fairness, implementation of neighbourhood policing and local priorities.

The forces received three points for 'excellent' ratings, two for 'good', one for 'fair' and minus one for 'poor'.

Dorset Police scored 12 points out of a possible 21, placing the force in mid-table in an unofficial league table compiled from the Home Office figures.

Bedfordshire, which scored just one point, was the worst force according to the ratings while Surrey and Lancashire were the best.

Dorset Police was the only force in the South West region and one of only seven forces nationwide to receive an excellent' rating for customer satisfaction and fairness. The force also met or exceeded the required standards in the six other performance areas.

The PPA report praised Dorset Police for achieving strong satisfaction ratings and said it was one of the best forces in England and Wales for public confidence.

Dorset Police deputy chief constable Chris Lee said: "Dorset Police is continuing to deliver its commitment to a safer Dorset against rigorous standards and despite the force being the second lowest funded in England and Wales.

"This is the third year running that Dorset has been a top performer in the area of public satisfaction and fairness.

"Dorset continues to be a consistently high performing force.

"But we are never complacent and the force always strives to achieve even more to make Dorset safer and feel safer."