Shoplifting offences in Ipswich town centre have fallen by ten per cent over the past year, new figures can reveal today.

The statistics, released by Suffolk police following a Freedom of Information request, show that 1,257 thefts were committed in the town centre during 2010/11.

A total of 1,397 thefts were carried out during 2009/10 – meaning that crimes have fallen by almost exactly 10pc.

Westgate Street remains the road with the highest number of thefts with 299 in 2010/11, although this figure is a reduction in the 348 recorded during the previous 12 months.

The most improved road is Norwich Road where the number of thefts plummeted from 237 in 2009/10 to just 52 in the past year.

But incidents have risen in Tavern Street, which is the second worst street for thefts. There was also an increase in thefts in Goddard Road and Upper Brook Street

Inspector Andrew Mason, who covers Ipswich town centre, said police had worked hard to combat town centre thefts.

He said: “Offences in Ipswich are down significantly compared to this time last year.

“We actively worked to target and warn known offenders in the run-up to Christmas and will increase plain-clothed patrols in the coming months. The figures released also include roads with big supermarkets in them which employ private firms to tackle shoplifting.”

Paul Clement, executive director of Ipswich Central, added: “It is exceptionally positive for the town centre to see that shoplifting and thefts have decreased.

“We now have seven Ipswich Central Street Rangers active in the town, and their continued presence really does make a difference.”

Top ten crime hotspots:-

Westgate Street 299 crimes

Tavern Street 259

Upper Brook Street 132

Carr Street 122

Goddard Road 107

Hadleigh Road 72

Butter Market Centre 68

Nacton Road 52

Norwich Road 52

Stoke Park Drive 47

Woodbridge Road 47