NORTH Yorkshire Police hit back today, after figures from a national newspaper claimed the force had the country's largest rise in violent and sexual offences.

The statistics, set out in a Sunday newspaper, said the force experienced a rise of 53 per cent in the number of sexual offences in the period to June 2004.

The report claimed that the biggest rise in violence against the person - including assault, wounding and murder - was also in North Yorkshire.

The force today said the sex offence statistics, which revealed the number of cases had risen from 89 to 136, were correct - but added that the figures were still very small.

A force spokesman said the figures needed to be put in context against the rest of its statistics, which showed that detections and arrests were up and overall crime was down.

In June, North Yorkshire Police revealed research which showed it had the third lowest rate of violent crime among organisations of a similar make-up and population.

The force said it believed any increases could also be put down to more visible officers making it easier to report crimes.

It was praised by the Home Office for its "impressive progress" in cutting crime.

Speaking at the time, Deputy Chief Constable Roger Baker said: "North Yorkshire Police has turned a corner in terms of performance. This year, detections and arrests are up, crime is down and we are forging ahead."

The Home Office figures revealed that the force ranked well below the national average for burglary, autocrime and violence. The figures were released as forces blamed weekend binge drinking in many towns and cities for the rises in violent crime.

Mr Baker said that more beat officers, aided by police community support officers, were targeting yobbery and public misbehaviour.

He said: "What these figures mean is that we have the right people in the right place at the right time. But every time an officer breaks up a fight, disturbance, or even a jostling match in the street, an addition is made to the total of reported crimes.

"Quite simply, more officers on the street means more eyes and ears to spot such behaviour."

Updated: 10:08 Tuesday, October 05, 2004