Crime has fallen in Sutton to a five year low, figures show.

New Metropolitan Police figures show that overall crime fell from 13, 836 in the 12 months to March 2009 to 12, 978 in the year leading to March 2010.

Gun crime dropped from 62 offences to 42, domestic crime fell from 1,022 to 986 and residential burglary fell from 877 to 756.

However, while the statistics show most offences fell, the offence of rape increased from 42 to 56.

Robbery committed on people also increased slightly from 279 to 285.

Borough commander Guy Ferguson was unable to speak to the Sutton Guardian to explain the results, because of purdah rules during the run up to the election.

However analysis of previous annual results show that in 2006/07 total crime in Sutton was at 15, 408, in 2005/06 it was 16,077 and in 2004/05 it was 16, 942.

In 2001/01 total crime in Sutton was 13,938.

The Met’s figures show total offences across London during the financial year 2009/10 have fallen to their lowest level for at least ten years.

There were 38 fewer homicides in 2009/10 than in 2008/09, the lowest level for at least ten years 2,399 fewer young people were victims of violence than in 2007/08, an 11.9 per cent reduction in two years.

Despite a slight rise of 2.2 percent since 2008/09, knife crime remains down by 11.1 percent on 2007/08 levels.