Police say the figures conceal a downward trend

With 83 crimes per 1,000 people last year, the figures are the eighth lowest of 43 forces in England and Wales.

Figures also showed that the number of recorded crimes went up 29% to more than 130,000, but police believe the underlying trend is down.

The British Crime Survey records crime in a new way.

Devon and Cornwall is one of the safest regions to live in the country Jill Owen Police Authority

Devon and Cornwall is the last police force to start using the new system, known as the National Crime Recording Standard.

More incidents are logged as crimes under the new crime recording system.

Under the new system, two men involved in a fight who decided not to lodge complaints, would still be recorded as two separate assaults.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Pearce said: "The different method of recording crime has made it difficult to say with certainty whether crime has gone up or down in Cornwall.

"We can say with certainty that the number of incidents we have recorded has gone down and we believe the underlying trend in crime in the region also shows a downward trend."

Extra 70 officers

Detection rates fell by 2.6% to 28.9%, putting the force 14th highest.

There were 15,700 burglaries, up 443 or 2.9%, making the force ninth lowest.

The force is planning to put another 70 officers on the beat by next year, after winning a 40% increase in funding from council tax payers.

Police authority chairman Jill Owen, said: "Devon and Cornwall is one of the safest regions to live in the country.

"We are putting more officers on the streets than ever before to make sure crime stays low."