Police in mid Devon have achieved a 2.8 per cent reduction in the number of crimes this year - even though the force as a whole failed to meet the 2 per cent target.
The figures relate to the 12 months ending in March.
There was a large drop in the number of house burglaries, and criminal damage also fell.
However shoplifting and theft have increased, which police believe is partly caused by benefit cuts causing hardship.
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