Fewer than half of Sussex residents think the police are doing a good job, the Government said today.

The statistic was revealed by the Home Office's latest attempt to expose failing police forces.

For the first time it has published performance tables comparing Sussex only with police authorities facing similar issues.

The new system intends to stop forces hiding behind the excuse that it is unfair to draw comparisons with the national picture, as different areas have different priorities.

The data shows only 46 per cent of residents believe police performance is up to scratch, compared with 47 per cent in the similar areas of Avon and Somerset, Bedfordshire, Essex, Hampshire, Kent and Thames Valley.

Residents in the county are more worried about car crime (17 per cent), violence (19 per cent) and public disorder (23 per cent) than in these areas.

The percentage of offences detected was one per cent below average for the similar areas, at 19 per cent.

The force also struggled on the percentage of offenders brought to justice - 16 per cent compared with 19 per cent in the other areas.

However, the fear of burglary (11 per cent) in Sussex was below that elsewhere.

The number of burglaries per 1,000 households in Sussex was 11.4, compared with an average of 13.6. Incidents of vehicle crime were 14 per 1,000 compared with 16.7.

The number of robberies was also below average.

Sussex also did well in keeping down the number of officers' sick days, with an average of 11.1 days last year, compared with an average in the similar areas of 11.2.

The figure for days lost for civilian staff was 10.7, compared with 11.2.

Police minister John Denham said the data was intended to raise questions about why performance varied between similar forces.

He said: "Publishing performance comparisons will allow the public to hold the police to account."

The performance monitors are based on five key areas, as set out in the National Policing Plan.

These are reducing crime, investigating crime, detection and conviction rates, citizen focus and promoting public safety.