The number of homicides recorded by police fell to its lowest level in almost 30 years last year, figures showed today.
A total of 550 murders, manslaughters and infanticides were recorded, down 14% from 638 in 2010/11 and the lowest since 1983, figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed.
It comes as the total number of recorded crimes fell to 3,976,312, the first time it has fallen below four million since 1989.
Policing Minister Nick Herbert said: "Today's figures show that despite the challenge of reducing police budgets, crime has continued to fall.
"They give the lie to the spurious claim that there is a simple link between overall police numbers and the crime rate.
"There are some areas of local concern, and the election of Police and Crime Commissioners in November will enable local people to hold their force to account and ensure that problem crimes in their area are tackled head-on.
"Police forces should be congratulated for continuing to drive down crime and maintaining their service to the public while saving money.
"We are freeing the police from red tape and central targets so that they can focus resources where they are needed most."
The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said the figures showed the "ongoing determination and dedication of the service and its staff to reduce crime, deal with anti-social behaviour and protect the public".
Deputy Chief Constable Douglas Paxton, Acpo's lead on statistics, said: "The service is 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."
The overall fall in crime was driven by the falls in volume crimes such as vehicle crime and burglaries, Mr Flatley said.
"I don't think there's any dispute that security has played a major role in that, both in terms of domestic security - window locks, door locks, alarms, etc - and certainly in relation to vehicles, with immobilisers, deadlocks, etc," he said.
