A report to be presented to the council’s cabinet shows the Safer Croydon Partnership is helping drive down crime.

The team has cut the number of crimes committed in the borough by 2.8 per cent according to the report.

It also shows a drop in violent crime, including offences by young people.

There were 154 individuals forced to sign acceptable behaviour agreements that meant they made a commitment to change their ways. The report shows that 99 per cent did not breach their agreement.

The Turnaround Centre in South End, the country’s first centre dedicated to turning young people away from crime and antisocial behaviour, is also singled out for praise.

It says that the centre has helped to help families and young people at risk of becoming victims of crime, or offending.

Councillor Steve O’Connell, Croydon Council’s cabinet member for community safety, said: “Croydon is moving away from being a place that was at the beginning of 2006 known and perceived as having high levels of crime.

“There is still much to be done and we will never be complacent but there have been improvements year on year. The work we are all doing to make the borough safer must continue and we will make sure that it does.”

The partnership comprises of the council, police, Primary Care Trust, fire service, probation workers, Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) and representatives from the business and voluntary sectors.