Northumbria has one of the best performing police forces in England, it was announced today, as the best and worst performing police forces in England and Wales have been identified in government figures.

The worst was Humberside, according to the Home Office criteria. South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Cambridgeshire were in the bottom five.

The best were West Mercia, Northumbria, Hampshire, Surrey and West Midlands.

Forces were rated for investigating and cutting crime, providing help, resource use, promoting safety, local policing and community confidence in the police.

Across 43 forces, there was an improvement in 56% of those rating categories, 39% were stable and 5% had deteriorated. Nine per cent of the ratings were poor, 40% fair, 44% good and 7% excellent.

Dyfed Powys, Gwent, Kent, Northamptonshire, Northumbria and West Midlands had deteriorated at investigating crime.

Humberside and Northamptonshire were poor at cutting crime.

The Metropolitan Police, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire were poor at promoting safety, which includes dealing with anti-social behaviour and road traffic safety.

Cheshire, Humberside and South Yorkshire were poor at providing help, which includes frontline and motorway policing.

Cambridgeshire, Humberside, Metropolitan Police, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, Thames Valley and West Yorkshire had poor citizen focus, which includes community confidence in the police.

Cambridgeshire and Nottinghamshire were poor at resource use.

Bedfordshire, Humberside, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire were poor at local policing.

The top performing force, West Mercia, was excellent at investigating crime and resource use and good in all other categories.

Home Office minister Hazel Blears called the figures "very encouraging".

"Over the last three years we have seen real and sustainable improvements in police performance."

"Crime and the fear of crime are both down and the number of offences brought to justice has gone up.

"The reports also identify areas for improvement, in particular in terms of how the service engages and responds to community concerns.

Full report in The Northern Echo on Friday