A respected survey also showed that crime against adults has also fallen by 6 per cent recently, with estimates of violent crime half what they were in 1995.
All the main categories of offence have seen reductions, with homicide down 14 per cent, robbery 7 per cent, vehicle theft 8 per cent, household crime such as burglary 7 per cent, and some types of theft down 2 per cent after a rise the previous year.
The figures for England and Wales cover the period of the riots in summer 2011, but because of the way police record mass offences the looting and destruction only had a "small" impact on statistics.
The continuing drops in crime reported by the independent Office for National Statistics come despite police strength falling to its lowest level for almost a decade, as forces deal with 20 per cent cuts to their budgets.
It had also been feared that high jobless numbers and public service cuts, following the worst recession in decades, would spark a crime wave.
The two sets of statistics published by the ONS on Thursday morning, covering the year to June 2012 and taken from police records and the Crime Survey for England and Wales, were quickly welcomed by ministers.
Jeremy Browne, the new Crime Prevention Minister, said: "Crime is falling. I want people to be safe and secure and this is very welcome news.
"Today's figures indicate you have the lowest chance of being a victim of crime since the survey began in 1981.
"Chief constables are rising to the challenge of making efficiency savings and providing greater value for money. As the HMIC has said, 'the front line is being protected.'
"Police reform is working. We have swept away central targets and reduced police bureaucracy. This shows that how the police are deployed, rather than their absolute numbers, is what is key to cutting crime."
Senior ranks said the figures showed how hard police were working at a challenging time.
Deputy Chief Constable Douglas Paxton, the lead on statistics for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said: "The latest crime statistics published today show police are continuing to reduce crime and maintain public confidence. Crime recorded by police in England and Wales fell by six per cent for the 12 months to June, while the independent Crime Survey for England and Wales also showed a six per cent decrease in overall crime, and remains broadly in line with police recorded data.
"All major categories of crime have fallen, most notably violence against the person offences, which was down six per cent, robbery offences down seven per cent - the lowest level in nearly 10 years - and homicide was down by 14 per cent. Decreases in household crime are also pleasing with householders three times less likely to be a victim of burglary than in 1995.
"Public confidence in the police has also remained steady with 62 per cent of people stating they believe that the police in their local area are dealing with the things that matter to people in the community.
"What is important to note is that these overall crime reductions have been achieved at a time when forces are facing significant cash savings. The service remains determined to continue to build on the good work reflected in these publications and the results are a credit to those officers and staff who have faced the challenge of major efficiencies while continuing to tackle crime in our communities."
