Tim Passmore, Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), held a meeting to scrutinise the police's performance on Friday, the last before the elections take place in early May,

During the meeting, a report revealed crime levels had dropped by an average of 18.74 per cent over the last year across several key metrics such as rape and serious sexual offences, hate crime, child sexual abuse, and domestic abuse.

Meanwhile, the rate at which these crimes were solved increased by an average of about 5 per cent over the same period, driven mainly by a 30 per cent solved rate in hate crime cases.

Despite the drop in crime rates, Mr Passmore said some of the metrics, such as domestic abuse which saw a jump during Covid, were just now reverting back to pre-pandemic levels, with a lot of cases still being under reported.

He added: "The partnership between the public and the police is absolutely fundamental so do please keep on reporting to us."

During the meeting it was revealed in the 12 months leading to December 2023, nearly 6,000 reports were shared with schools of children who have experienced or witnessed domestic abuse.

On top of this, the report also showed just over 700 children were held in custody between January and December of last year, in line with pre-pandemic levels, at both of Suffolk's Police Investigation Centres, in Bury St Edmunds and Martlesham.

Mr Passmore said crime involving children and young people was a big concern and would continue to be taken very seriously,

He added: "Prevention is far better than cure, it's not just about the pound notes, it's helping these youngsters to have a good, purposeful life.

"There's a lot for us to do collectively and we will get there."