HAMPSHIRE police is one of the worst forces for accurately recording crime, a report published today reveals.

The constabulary ranked as one of the two lowest in the country for dealing with crime figures, according to the Audit Commissions findings.

The commission's report said recording crimes accurately was vital to help target resources, reassure the public and aid officers in their work.

Hampshire ranked "poor" and "fair" in two key areas of crime recording, meaning, among other things, officers were failing in supporting victims of crime by providing follow-up calls and visits.

County police chiefs have accepted the findings, blaming difficulties with the installation of a new IT system.

Audit Commission chief executive Steve Bundred said: "Accurate, timely and reliable data is vital in reducing crime and making communities safer.

"Only one force has achieved an excellent rating for its management arrangements and a small number of forces have failed to improve or even deteriorated since the last audit in 2004."

The report concluded that "radical change" was needed in Hampshire.

Deputy Chief Constable of Hampshire Ian Readhead said: "During the period covered by this Audit Commission report, this force undertook the most radical IT change in its history. We have openly acknowledged the poor quality of data recording in this period."