Gun crimes, rapes and sexual offences all increased during 2010 in Kingston.

However burglaries, car crime and robberies were lower than the previous year.

The results mean the borough has kept up its claim as the safest in London again after it saw a tiny rise in crime throughout last year.

Superintendent Paul McGregor, of Kingston police, said: “Overall crime has remained at a low and constant level despite difficult economic times.

“Our high levels of proactivity and the use of police resources focused on peak times and key areas of concern have seen overall reductions in residential burglaries, motor car theft and street robberies.”

Supt McGregor said there had only been one incident when a gun was fired. A shooting in Hook before Christmas that has yet to lead to any arrests.

Reported rapes, which included historic cases, increased from 33 to 49. Gun crimes increased from 11 to 29, and burglaries dropped by 63 from 1,252 to 1,189.

There were no murders last year, compared with one in 2009 when New Malden businessman Seong Hong stabbed to death North Korean refugee Myung Chul Jang.

The total number of crimes rose by four to 11,134, beating Richmond, the nearest contender for safest borough, which had 11,753 crimes reported.

Detection rates for 2010-11 will show how successful police have been at clearing up crimes. Last year the rates showed three out of four crimes were going unsolved, including each of the 37 rape allegations made in 2009.

Crimes 2010 (2009)

Total crimes 11,134 (11,130)

Murder 0 (1)

Violence 2,225 (2,207)

Rape 46 (33)

Other sexual 121 (107)

Robbery 240 (278)

Burglary 1,189 (1,252)

Gun crime 29 (11)

Motor vehicle crime 889 (924)

Domestic crime 642 (641)

Racist and religious hate crime 93 (122)

Homophobic crime 6 (5)