Figures have shown that overall crime in the Forth Valley has gone down while the detection rate has remained above the Scottish average.

Chief constable Derek Penman announced on Thursday that crime had fall by 4% over the last 12 months.

Figures show there have been falls in recorded cases of violent crime (-6.4%), crimes of dishonesty (-2.4%), anti-social behaviour (-14%) and vandalism (-4.7%).

Over the last year police in the area recovered £4 million of illegal drugs and arrested 63 people who were involved in organised crime.

There was a fall in the number people being injured on central Scotland's roads, from 563 to 551.

Chief constable Penman said: "The force has met a number of challenges across a wide range of issues including our preparation for reform of the police service, serious crime investigations and responding to severe weather. We have also seen a reduction in police staff numbers through early retirement and redundancies as the force and Joint Police Board worked together to reduce costs and deliver a sustainable budget."However, the force has managed to maintain police officer numbers at the agreed establishment levels which has been achieved through support from the Central Scotland Joint Police Board and Scottish Government."