Crime in East Oxford has dropped overall by 12 per cent in the past year, say Thames Valley Police.

Insp Jim O'Ryan, who is in charge of policing the area, said violent crime between the start of April last year and the end of March this year had fallen by 14 per cent.

Mr O'Ryan said: "It's actually quite surprising, as we have a policy now of dealing with minor disorder much earlier on, so I would have expected the figures to have gone up.

"If we find somebody misbehaving, then we intervene immediately, so we would be recording all of those things.

"But what we have been recording had been less serious crimes and what we're recording overall is down in terms of numbers."

There were 1,575 crimes in the past year, compared with 1,787 in the previous 12 months, 213 fewer.

But muggings rose by five per cent, from 60 to 63, minor assaults rose by two per cent from 121 to 124 and arson by 44 per cent, from nine incidents to 13.

Mr O'Ryan said: "The percentage figures for arson look appalling, but actually it's still very low and there are other offences which have fallen significantly, so all in all, I'm exceptionally pleased with these figures.

"You can't be complacent, because as soon as you take your eye off the ball, these things start going up.

"But it's important we keep on top of the few people in the area who commit the majority of the crime and make life as difficult as possible for them to do their business."

He also warned that residents should take steps themselves to avoid becoming victims of crime.

He said: "People who become victims of crime tend to be those who give criminals an opportunity. If you keep your house secure, burglars will find somewhere else, so there's an element of making yourself less likely to be a victim."

Mr O'Ryan said the extension of the city's Nightsafe scheme to Cowley Road had helped to reduce crime levels. He also wants to see CCTV cameras installed to work alongside a radio link system between licensed premises and shops. He added: "Radio links are quite limited when used in isolation, but they become really effective when used with CCTV.

"It can have a significant impact on really quite serious crime. I know the city council's east area committee has reservations, but I think it's something that needs to be pursued."