Major concerns were raised 12 months ago when huge rises in violence, robbery and burglary were recorded as crime rose by 6% – the first time offences had increased since 2004. But figures released to the Western Morning News yesterday showed Devon and Cornwall had seen a spectacular reversal of fortunes with crime falling in 2012-13 by 6.7% or 6,126 offences.
"No-one in Devon and Cornwall Police liked being on the wrong end of an increase in crime," the force's Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer told the WMN.
"The force was angry and ashamed and has worked damn hard to get its reputation back. I am very proud of that."
The crime figures in 2011-12, which caused alarm in the Home Office, coincided with massive reorganisation forced to meet four-year Government cuts totalling £51 million. As the force lost 200 officers offences leapt to 91,808 with major increases in violent crime and robbery.
Now – despite having lost almost 450 officers and 320 civilian staff in the last two years – total crime is back down to 85,369 offences.
Crime fell in 13 of 17 categories with robbery down by 16.2% to 419 crimes, house burglary down 20.7% to 3,347 and criminal damage down by 13.7% to 15,615.
Mr Sawyer said: "The comprehensive spending review didn't hit all forces in the same way in terms of its ferocity in years one and two.
"Some forces were able to run off reserves or simplify back office functions which we didn't have the luxury of because of the way the force had been configured to optimise the number of officers on the frontline.
"We radically changed the police model and, although wrong, we were distracted by that. I and the chief officer team carry the can for that."
But he added: "We are now back to a level of crime we had when we had almost 400 more police officers and 320 more police staff
Within the force, a tight performance management system in now in place while local policing commanders have been given greater flexibility in how to deploy their officers.
Outside, the force has looked to clamp down on crime associated with late night drunkenness while also targeting prolific offenders.
Other crimes which saw reductions last year were "other burglary" (down 15.4% to 4,784), theft from vehicle (down 6.2% to 1,224), theft from vehicles (down 14.2% to 4,693) and "other vehicle crime (down 9.4% to 348).
Theft of bicycles fell 24.5% to 1,216 and shoplifting by 2.6% to 7,127. "Other theft" was cut by 7.9% to 12,181 while handling offences reduced by the same amount to 151.
Crimes of fraud saw a 11.5% reduction to 2,176 while drugs offences fell by 6.5% to 4,637.
There were 13 murders in 2012-13, the same as the previous 12 months, while "other crime" was up 6.1% to 1,871. The 2.6% rise in sexual offences has been attributed to increase reporting.
There remain, though, serious concerns about the continued increase in violent crime which was up 5.1% to 23,639 offences.
Mr Sawyer said that was one of two specific targets which would be set for every police officer, and member of staff, along with improving the service to victim of crimes.
Police and crime Commissioner Tony Hogg said the overall figures, below the historic low of 86,692 crimes recorded in 2010-11, were cause for "cautious optimism".
He said: "My job is to hold the police to account and I am very clear that having lost 400 officers over the last two years and saved £32 million, they are not doing badly."
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