SUFFOLK appears to be an incredibly safe place to live according to latest figures - with nearly 25 communities reporting less than one crime a week.

But police chiefs last night refused to rest on their laurels, promising to continue their zero tolerance approach and target those issues that are of particular concern.

Despite hot spots in the larger towns of Ipswich and Lowestoft the general picture appears to be overwhelmingly positive.

Of those communities that seem to perform particularly well are Debenham, with just 29 crimes reported for 2009/10, and Worlingworth with just 32.

A total of 24 areas report the equivalent of less than one crime a week.

Mid Suffolk is the safest district with 3,231 crimes reported between 2009/10, followed by Babergh, Forest Heath and then Suffolk Coastal.

Meanwhile in Ipswich 13,815 crimes were reported, 8,226 in Waveney and 6,609 in St Edmundsbury.

The figures have been compiled by The Suffolk Observatory using data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Last night police chiefs warned against complacency and pledged to continue to crack down on those issues that communities were particularly concerned about.

A spokesman for Suffolk Constabulary said: “This year crime in Suffolk has been at it’s lowest for almost a decade.

“Through pro-active targeted policing we will continue to build upon this solid foundation as well as focussing on increasing local people’s confidence in their local policing service.

“Suffolk remains a safe county in which to live and work and we must ensure that we continue to deliver the best possible service.

“We want to make sure local people feel safe and feel we are doing a good job.”

The Suffolk Observatory is a partnership between Choose Suffolk, Suffolk County Council, district and borough councils, NHS Suffolk and Suffolk Constabulary.

The communities with the lowest crime rates, with number of crimes in a full year

1. Debenham 29

2. Worlingworth 32

3 = Chadacre 33

Peasenhall 33

5. Chedburgh 40

6 = Stradbroke/Laxfield 41

Earl Soham 41

8. Hoxne 43

9 = Nayland 44

Grundisburgh 44

The Saints 44

Fressingfield 44

The number of crimes recorded in Suffolk for 2009/10

Ward Number of reported crimes

Babergh

Alton 77

Berners 100

Boxford 48

Brett Vale 50

Brook 181

Bures St Mary 45

Chadacre 33

Dodnash 98

Glemsford and Stanstead 136

Great Cornard North 230

Great Cornard South 199

Hadleigh North 267

Hadleigh South 95

Holbrook 45

Lavenham 86

Leavenheath 46

Long Melford 206

Lower Brett 45

Mid Samford 114

Nayland 44

North Cosford 73

Pinewood 260

South Cosford 51

Sudbury East 396

Sudbury North 382

Sudbury South 777

Waldingfield 149

Forest Heath

All Saints 332

Brandon East 651

Brandon West 241

Eriswell and The Rows 228

Exning 93

Great Heath 300

Iceni 58

Lakenheath 181

Manor 107

Market 430

Red Lodge 148

St Mary’s 872

Severals 766

South 52

Ipswich

Alexandra 4,167

Bixley 368

Bridge 743

Castle Hill 361

Gainsborough 864

Gipping 1,150

Holywells 473

Priory Heath 841

Rushmere 347

St John’s 403

St Margaret’s 451

Sprites 344

Stoke Park 454

Westgate 1,440

Whitehouse 912

Whitton 497

Mid Suffolk

Bacton and Old Newton 48

Badwell Ash 68

Barking and Somersham 64

Bramford and Blakenham 191

Claydon and Barham 155

Debenham 29

Elmswell and Norton 134

Eye 133

Fressingfield 44

Gislingham 68

Haughley and Wetherden 57

Helmingham and Coddenham 64

Hoxne 43

Mendlesham 45

Needham Market 124

Onehouse 95

Palgrave 84

Rattlesden 58

Rickinghall and Walsham 127

Ringshall 50

Stowmarket Central 565

Stowmarket North 321

Stowmarket South 211

Stowupland 77

Stradbroke and Laxfield 41

The Stonhams 79

Thurston and Hessett 107

Wetheringsett 54

Woolpit 63

Worlingworth 32

St Edmundsbury

Abbeygate 967

Bardwell 89

Barningham 128

Barrow 76

Cavendish 56

Chedburgh 40

Clare 77

Eastgate 379

Fornham 82

Great Barton 47

Haverhill East 458

Haverhill North 428

Haverhill South 701

Haverhill West 228

Horringer and Whelnetham 53

Hundon 143

Ixworth 75

Kedington 66

Minden 309

Moreton Hall 201

Northgate 170

Pakenham 54

Risby 96

Risbygate 773

Rougham 82

St Olaves 226

Southgate 210

Stanton 66

Westgate 128

Wickhambrook 101

Withersfield 100

Suffolk Coastal

Aldeburgh 218

Earl Soham 41

Farlingaye 114

Felixstowe East 110

Felixstowe North 243

Felixstowe South 618

Felixstowe South East 460

Felixstowe West 400

Framlingham 186

Grundisburgh 44

Hacheston 60

Hollesley with Eyke 81

Kesgrave East 169

Kesgrave West 140

Kyson 129

Leiston 455

Martlesham 236

Melton and Ufford 204

Nacton 376

Orford and Tunstall 45

Otley 84

Peasenhall 33

Rendlesham 88

Riverside 98

Rushmere St Andrew 119

Saxmundham 240

Seckford 278

Snape 61

Sutton 64

Trimleys with Kirton 187

Walberswick and Wenhaston 70

Wickham Market 91

Witnesham 69

Yoxford 58

Waveney

Beccles North 316

Beccles South 149

Blything 48

Bungay 319

Carlton 167

Carlton Colville 314

Gunton and Corton 308

Halesworth 179

Harbour 1,896

Kessingland 335

Kirkley 1,378

Lothingland 68

Normanston 647

Oulton 127

Oulton Broad 189

Pakefield 391

St Margaret’s 439

Southwold and Reydon 143

The Saints 44

Wainford 76

Whitton 555

Worlingham 85

Wrentham 53

SOURCE: The Suffolk Observatory