There was a small reduction in crime in Kingston over the past year, with the police hailing their greatest success as cutting residential burglaries almost in half.

The total number of reported crimes fell from 1,456 in 2002/03 to 1,435 in 2003/04, a drop of 21 incidents.

Violent crimes fell from 318 to 307, and robberies, which include street crime, dropped from 33 to 23.

Residential burglaries fell from 41 to 25.

However, non-residential burglaries rose from 25 to 40, and gun crime rose from one reported incident to five in the period from July 2003 to June this year.

There were three reported rapes, the same number as a year ago.

Other sexual offences, such as indecent assaults, increased from 12 to 18.

Car crime showed a slight drop from 107 to 103 and robberies of business premises rose from one to two.

Reported murders rose from none to two, both of which are now pending trial.

They were last month's Wood Street dismembered body in a freezer case and the Chessington security guard beaten to death while on duty last September.

Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Cassidy of Kingston police said: "We are pleased with the reductions in robberies and residential burglaries.

"It is a reflection of the work put in this year by our officers and the crime and disorder reduction partnership.

"We identified robbery and burglary as a priority last year and have clearly been successful in tackling them."

Officers have also highlighted the arrest of a suspect in a number of thefts from the elderly around Chessington as a success.

The woman, who is alleged to have conned money from pensioners on their doorstep, is currently on police bail.

djudge@london.newsquest.co.uk