A change in method is bearing fruit for police in Canterbury.

Despite a slight increase in overall crime for the start of this year, the crime rate's been steadily dropping over the past three years in the city.

Canterbury Metro Area Commander Superintendent Lane Todd says he's noticed a decrease in robberies.

"We've put quite a bit of work in relation to how we actually respond to them now so that's a combination of the initial response but also putting a prevention team providing advice very shortly afterwards."

Todd says last year there was a spike in armed robberies of liquor outlets and dairies, but the two groups responsible have been caught.