In the year to the end of March, there were just under 10,000 crimes recorded in the district – down 953 on the year before.

But although house break-ins fell 22% and car crime by 17%, sex offences rose 30%, and drug arrests by 8%. Police blamed new offences in the sex arrest category for the rise.

The overall fall in crime is four times the Thames Valley average, and comes after the local force was merged with Reading and Wokingham.

Elsewhere, assaults rose 4.2%, and shoplifting went up 4%. Thames Valley Police said it would not comment on the figures in an election period.