CRIME has risen in North Yorkshire by seven per cent, with sex, violence and shoplifting seeing the highest increases.

Figures released today by the Office for National Statistics showed North Yorkshire Police saw a lower increase than the national picture, which saw an increase in England and Wales of 13 per cent in the year ending March 2018.

However, reports of violent crime in North Yorkshire rose by 13 per cent last year, with 10,838 incidents, there were 1,562 sexual offences reported - an increase of 10 per cent- and there were 4,699 shoplifting offences, an increase of 14 per cent on the previous year.

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The average number of crimes per 1,000 members of the population was 83.5, meaning North Yorkshire was well below, but other significant changes in crime numbers saw a nine per cent increase in possession of weapons (244 incidents), criminal damage and arson up by four per cent, with 5,897 incidents, and public order offences up eight per cent with 1,522 incidents.

Temporary Chief Constable Lisa Winward said: “It is very pleasing that North Yorkshire continues to be the safest and lowest crime area in England and Wales. This reflects the professionalism and dedication of everyone connected to North Yorkshire Police, the effective partnership working with our local authorities and other community groups, and the vital support from local residents.

“While the seven per cent increase in crime in our area is lower than the 13 per cent increase nationally, we are not satisfied and we will not become complacent. We remain 100 per cent focused on reversing this trend in North Yorkshire through strong neighbourhood policing and our proactive approach to tackling and deterring offenders who come into North Yorkshire from other counties.”

Positively, the number of drug offences recorded by North Yorkshire Police fell by nine per cent, with 1,434 incidents, with bike theft down 17 per cent to 1,117 incidents, and theft from the person down 12 per cent to 412 incidents.

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Julia Mulligan, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, said that although some crime types had risen, the bigger picture showed the region was safe, due to "the hard work of police officers, police staff and volunteers".

She said: "North Yorkshire continues to be the safest county in England and Wales with 47.9 crimes per 1,000 of the population.

"Clearly, while still relatively safe, crime continues to rise so there is always more to do. This is especially true in our rural communities which we know often feel they do not receive a fair deal in the efforts put in to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour."

More to follow