VIOLENT crime has fallen dramatically in the borough over the last year, according to new figures, as police and town hall chiefs hail the success of their 'zero tolerance' approach.

Gun crime in Hammersmith and Fulham halved, with 34 less offences since the last financial year, and knife crime dropped by 26 per cent, or 95 offences.

Around 30 homes are burgled each week but the numbers are continuing to fall, dropping by 12 per cent or 230 homes.

At least one person is robbed every day on the borough's streets, but the robbery rate also fell by 21 per cent, with 172 fewer victims.

And the number of cars being broken into is now around six each day, down 25 per cent on last year, with 708 fewer crimes.

Total vehicle crime - including car theft - dropped by 54 per cent, while youth violence fell by 15 per cent, or 71 offences. There is now roughly one reported incident of violence between young people every day.

Despite those improvements there were 10 more rapes in the borough, rising 17 per cent to 66, and 22 more reported incidents of racist crime, rising eight per cent to 273.

Borough Commander Kevin Hurley said: "For the fourth year running, crime has fallen in Hammersmith and Fulham. There have been massive reductions in street robberies, house burglaries and thefts from motor vehicles.

"What is particularly good news is that violent crime involving youths, guns and knives is also down. The reality is that this borough is now a much safer place than a few years ago.

"But there is no room for complacency, we are determined to keep driving down crime and making this borough a difficult place for thieves, bullies and drug dealers."

The figures come following the launch of a new council-funded, round-the-clock policing team for Hammersmith Broadway, similar to those already operating in Shepherd's Bush and Fulham.

Shepherd's Bush Green still has more crime than anywhere else in the borough, according to the Met's crime mapping service, although the pilot 24-7 policing project is widely credited with helping to transform the area.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council's crime leader, Greg Smith, said: "The council's zero-tolerance policy of cracking down on criminals is paying dividends."

He said the council was also taking a "tough stance on benefits and council tax cheats" and "cracking down on crime at every opportunity" by handing out £75 littering fines and enforcing a borough-wide controlled drinking zone.

He added: "In total the council is now paying for 50 extra bobbies and the positive results speak for themselves."

Total recorded crime across London fell by 2.2 per cent last year, with gun crime falling by 26 per cent and knife crime by 13 per cent. Business crime rose by 11 per cent - mostly due to increased shoplifting resulting from the recession, police said.