CRIME has risen again in North Yorkshire, but police say the region is still one of the safest areas in the country.

The Office of National Statistics showed there was a total of 36,680 crimes in 2016, a one per cent rise on the previous year, but below the 10 per cent national average increase.

North Yorkshire did see an increase in violence against the person of 10 per cent (9,468 crimes, up 896 on last year), a 16 per cent rise in possession of weapons offences (206 crimes in total, 28 more than the previous year), and a 17 per cent increase in sexual offences (1,340 crimes, up 190 on 2015).

There was a seven per cent increase in public order offences (4,065, up 91), and crimes against society including the possession or publication of extreme images, up by 17 per cent (635, up 91). Robbery fell by 18 per cent (137, 31 fewer), burglary fell by 12 per cent (3,642, down 488), and drug offences fell by 17 per cent (1,563, down 318).

Julia Mulligan, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, said the increase was due to the way crime was reported by victims.

She said: “It is promising to see that robbery, burglary and drug offences have decreased. The increase in sexual offences, I believe, represents the steps we have made to improve the support services available for victims, and the public’s increasing confidence in reporting historic and current offences to the police.” Deputy Chief Constable Lisa Winward took “great pride” in the fact North Yorkshire was again rated the safest area in England.