All offences, including those involving violence, race and theft, showed a decrease during the 12-month period.

High profile campaigns which targeted antisocial behaviour, drink related crimes and criminal damage, were largely responsible for the fall.

The force's detection rate has also risen by 6% to 34.6%.

Criminal damage

A spokeswoman for the force, which includes, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, said: "Crime reductions in the Northumbria Police area are outpacing the national average.

"Overall crime fell by 7% locally in the full year from April 2005 to March 2006. Crime levels have now fallen by 37% since they peaked in 1991."

The figures show house burglary fell by 17% and is now one third lower than it was in 1973.

Car theft has dropped by 85% since its peak in 1990. Last year 4,748 vehicles were taken without the owner's consent compared with the highest of 30,387.

Violent crime was down 4%, criminal damage down 11%, and race related crimes down almost 6%.