Crime has risen over the last year in East and Mid Devon, official police records reveal.

Devon and Cornwall Police recorded 9,288 offences in East and Mid Devon in the 12 months to March, according to the Office for National Statistics.

That was an increase of ​18%​ compared to the previous year, when there were 7,892.

However, at 40.1 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, 522 were sexual offences – an increase of 33% from the year before.

Meanwhile, violent crime has risen in the area, from 3,485 to 4,142 over this period.

One of the main factors behind this increase was the rise in violence with injury, which rose by 27%, from 1,089 incidents to 1,385.

And theft offences rose by 13%, with 1,697 incidents recorded in the 12 months to March.

At 7.3 crimes per 1,000 people, that was far lower than the rate across England and Wales, which stood at 25.1.

Crimes recorded in East and Mid Devon included:

  • 522 sexual offences, a rise of 33%
  • 4,142 violent offences, a rise of 19%
  • 1,312 incidents of criminal damage and arson, up 15%
  • 360 drug offences, down 12%
  • 126 possession of weapons such as firearms or knives, up 56%
  • 846 public order offences, up 26%
  • 1,697 theft offences, a rise of 13%
  • 1,180 stalking and harassment offences, up 9%