Written by Patrick Jack, Data Reporter

CRIME has risen over the last year in Somerset, official police records reveal.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary recorded 39,403 offences in Somerset in the 12 months to March, according to the Office for National Statistics.

That was an increase of 16 per cent compared to the previous year, when there were 33,875.

However, at 69.9 crimes per 1,000 people, that was far lower than the rate across England and Wales, which stood at 89.3.

Of the crimes recorded in the area over the last 12 months, 1,725 were sexual offences – an increase of 51 per cent from the year before.

Meanwhile, violent crime has risen in the area, from 13,630 to 16,866 over this period.

One of the main factors behind this increase was the rise in violence with injury, which rose by 28 per cent, from 3,212 incidents to 4,096.

And theft offences rose by 6 per cent, with 8,041 incidents recorded in the 12 months to March.

At 14.3 crimes per 1,000 people, that was far lower than the rate across England and Wales, which stood at 25.1.

Crimes recorded in Somerset included:

• 1,725 sexual offences, a rise of 51 per cent
• 16,866 violent offences, a rise of 24 per cent
• 4,483 incidents of criminal damage and arson, up 10 per cent
• 811 drug offences, down 18 per cent
• 240 possession of weapons such as firearms or knives, down 7 per cent
• 6,200 public order offences, up 17 per cent
• 8,041 theft offences, a rise of 6 per cent
• 5,648 stalking and harassment offences, up 19 per cent