The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) said 8.36% of the allegations against the force by the public were supported.

The figures for the year 2002-2003, released on Tuesday, compare with a national average of just over 15%.

A total of 275 individual complaints were made against Kent Police, of which 23 were substantiated.

As well as comparing favourably with the national average, Kent's results look good in comparison with neighbouring counties.

In Sussex, 81 complaints were upheld, just under 22%, while in Surrey 27 were substantiated, but from just 151 complaints made, that represented 18%.

'Significant and unprecedented'

In Tuesday's report, the Police Complaints Authority confirmed it had supported a record percentage of complaints nationally.

Overall, one in six individual complaints led to misconduct action, up by 1.6% on the year before.

The number of officers against whom action was taken as a result, or wider procedures changed, also rose by 2% nationally.

PCA chairman Ian Bynoe said: "The rising rate of disciplinary action is significant and unprecedented.

"It is likely to result from higher standards of investigation, the lowering of the standard of proof from the criminal to the civil standard for hearings and a better resourced and trained PCA."