Nottinghamshire Police said this year's Home Office rating shows improvement, despite an overall ranking as the third-worst force in England and Wales.

Nottinghamshire's Deputy Chief Constable Howard Roberts said the force's improvement in performance was "excellent news".

It registered the 7th largest reduction in crime in England and Wales, he said.

'Significant progress'

John Clarke, chairman of Nottinghamshire Police Authority, said: "A lot of hard work has meant that we, and HMIC, can see some significant progress."

Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary said Nottinghamshire's performance "isn't brilliant" but is "improving and going in the right direction."

The Home Office report showed Lincolnshire Police as improved or stable in all but one category - public satisfaction.

However it was ranked as stable for public satisfaction under a separate "baseline" assessment.

'Excellent forces'

The government's Police Performance Assessments rate the 43 forces in seven different categories, including reducing crime, investigating crime, promoting safety and providing help.

Lincolnshire was ranked 4th from the bottom of the table according to a league table compiled by the Press Association.

Derbyshire was ranked 31st and Leicestershire was in the top quarter of the table - one of eight forces in the country to receive an "excellent" grade.