Kent, Sussex and Surrey all had below-average crime rates

Figures released on Thursday, showed there were fewer crimes per 1,000 people in the South East than in any other region.

Surrey was the safest county with 69 recorded crimes per 1,000 population - compared with a national average of 91.

Crime was also below average levels in Kent and Sussex but satisfaction with police was below average in both areas.

In the South East region, rates of recorded violence against the person, theft of or from a vehicle and burglary were lower than in any other region.

Recorded crimes per 1,000 people Surrey - 69 Kent - 86 Sussex - 90 England & Wales average - 113 Source: Home Office

The rates of robbery, handling of stolen goods, drug offences and criminal damage were also below the England and Wales average.

As well as releasing recorded crime statistics from police forces on Thursday, the Home Office has also released the results of the British Crime Survey (BCS).

The BCS questioned 10,000 people across England and Wales and suggested a 39% fall in crime nationally since 1995.

The survey showed the rate of people who had been a victim of crime at least once was slightly above the national average in Sussex and Kent - 22% and 21% respectively, compared with an average of 20%.

But it was lower in Surrey, where 18% of people said they had been a victim of crime.

2004 CRIME STATISTICS Facts and figures with details of offences and regions At-a-glance

Despite the relatively low level of crime in the South East - the region was also the safest when figures were released a year ago - people in the area seem to be as fearful of crime as they are in other parts of England and Wales.

The BCS showed 17% of people in the South East perceived local levels of disorder as high - the same as the national average.

In Kent the figure stood at an above-average 18%.

The BCS also showed below-average satisfaction with police performance in Kent and Sussex.

Local police performance was rated as "excellent" or "good" by 46% of people in Kent and 43% in Sussex - compared with 47% nationally.

In Surrey the figure was 55%.