The government has hailed an improvement in police performance as "significant progress".

Performance monitors published on Wednesday showed an eight per cent reduction in burglary, a nine per cent fall in robbery and a fall in vehicle crime of more than six per cent in past year.

But while the time spent on frontline policing increased to 63.6 per cent, detection rates fell by 0.3 per cent to 18.8 per cent.

Nevertheless, Home Office minister Hazel Blears welcomed the results.

"An effective and accountable police service is vital to the creation of safer communities," she said.

"These reports play a vital role in informing the public about how their force is performing. They have also been pivotal in delivering the government's commitment that all communities should receive an acceptable standard of policing, tackling the unacceptable variations in performance."

"The reports illustrate the significant progress that has been made so far," she added.

"We have record police numbers, stronger connections between police and communities and falling crime. But we must not be complacent. I want to maintain the record number of officers, deepen the connections to communities and reduce crime further.

"The government, police or communities cannot do this alone. But by working together, we can create an accountable and efficient police service which helps to build safe and active communities."