SWINDON Council's education and social services provision may have been slated in official reports but it has one of the best crime prevention strategies in the country.

That is the verdict of the Government's Audit Commission, which has awarded the authority a two-star rating for its community safety work.

Nationally, Swindon is in second equal place with three other authorities only one other achieved a better rating.

The identities of the other authorities have yet to be revealed, but they are among 23 surveyed.

The commission awarded authorities between no stars and three stars.

A two-star rating indicates good service and promising chances of improvement.

The report is a pat on the back for Swindon Council's Crime and Disorder Department.

In May, a similar survey by the Audit Commission into the social services department led to a zero-rating putting the department among the worst in the country.

Swindon Council's crime and disorder co-ordinator, Miriam Minty, said: "We really are very pleased there have been 23 inspections of community safety, and the score that we've got puts us in the top five in the country."

Swindon Crime and Disorder Partnership member Nigel Sharpe said: "I am absolutely delighted. Something has at last gone right for the borough council.

"To have a two-star rating is a tremendous achievement."

Ms Minty added: "In the country, only one other community safety service betters this score.

"They also had a two-star but had a good chance of improvement rather than promising which we had.

"We are really pleased with this initial report from the inspectors."

The report praises the council, saying: "The crime and disorder team is high quality and effective and has made innovative use of funding streams."

But the document also includes crime figures for Swindon which show that violent crime increased by 10.9 per cent last year, while domestic burglary went up by nearly 20 per cent. The report adds: "Crime levels in Swindon are higher than in the rest of Wiltshire, but mostly compare well with similar councils nationally."

House burglaries and car crime rates remain in the lowest 25 per cent among similar councils.

Swindon initiatives singled out for praise include the street wardens scheme, improved lighting and CCTV at Cavendish Square and a twilight football project aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour on Friday evenings.

The report also praises the Citizen Card proof of age scheme launched in 2000, the Police Security Awards given to 10 of the council's car parks and a graffiti-busting squad made up of young people doing community service.

The Audit Commission survey on Community Safety in Wiltshire is officially published next month.

But the draft report has already been sent to Swindon Council for its comments.