Police force ranked one of best

West Mercia was today hailed one of the top performing police forces in the country. Despite losing its crown last year, the latest tables show it still ranks fifth in the top 10.A Home Office report, which identifies the 43 forces' strengths and weaknesses by a points system for "excellent", "good", "fair", "stable" and "poor" ratings, shows the force's performance in reducing and investigating crimes has improved, awarding it a "good" rating for each of these categories.

The same is said for its provision of assistance to members of the public, citizen focus, local policing and use of resources.

Joint table-toppers Lancashire and Surrey each scored 20 points, followed by Cumbria and Northumbria on 19 points. West Mercia polled joint fifth with four other forces on 17 points.

Nationally, police performance showed an overall improvement, with violent crime down, an increase in front-line policing and more criminals brought to justice.

About 60 per cent of grades awarded to forces were "good" or "excellent".

Home Office Minister Tony McNulty conceded money was tighter and said police funding had hit a "flat-lining" period, but added that this followed sev-en to eight years of growth.

He said a challenging period lay ahead, but this would encourage forces to be more efficient and "sophisticated and imaginative" with their resources.

He said: "The figures out today show improvements in tackling crime, more offences brought to justice and greater satisfaction among victims of crimes in the police forces who help them."