One of the region's police forces says it is bucking the national trend.
County Durham Police said overall crime for the quarter between July and September 2003 had dropped year-on-year by 3.5 per cent to 12,116.
Violent crime, which includes violence against the person, robbery and sexual offences was also down from 2,140 to 1,873.
In Northumbria overall reported crime also fell - by four per cent to 37,877 although violent crime against the person was up by 4.4 per cent to 6,340.
Both Cleveland and North Yorkshire said they were not releasing fresh statistics to coincide with the Home Office announcement.
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