ROBBERY and domestic burglary were among the crimes that increased in the region in the last year and overall crime rates have risen slightly.

Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics’ for the year ending September 2017 show that there were 37,573 crimes in North Yorkshire during the 12-month period.

This gives a crime rate of 46.2 per 1,000 of the population, reflecting a one per cent increase compared to the same period the previous year.

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Among the other crimes that increased were possession of weapons offences and shoplifting, both up by seven per cent, and violence-related crimes which rose by eight per cent.

Drugs offences reduced by 11 per cent and there was also a fall in non-domestic burglaries, theft and vehicle offences.

Deputy Chief Constable Lisa Winward said the police and its partners were working “extremely hard” to keep the area as safe as possible.

She added: “We do this to maintain the high quality-of-life for our residents and businesses, as well as for the many thousands of visitors who come here all year round.

“Our Neighbourhood Policing Teams across North Yorkshire and the City of York play an integral role in the communities they are proud to serve.

“North Yorkshire Police is also keeping a very tight grip on cross-border crime, with our well-established proactive policing approach continuing to intercept and disrupt suspected offenders at all times of the day.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan, said: “It’s good that North Yorkshire is bucking the national trend, and I thank the police for their hard work.

“However, there are some issues behind the numbers released, in particular domestic burglary, which the public have as a top priority.

“It is absolutely right that the police focus on protecting vulnerable people and serious crimes, but we do need to ensure issues such as burglary remain a priority, changes in recording notwithstanding.”

Ms Mulligan said she recently looked into how North Yorkshire Police responds to burglary, which revealed some good work but also areas for improvement, which she is pursuing with the Chief Constable.

She added: “It is also reassuring to see a number of offences reducing, such as drug crime and theft. With drugs in particular, there has been a great deal of good work done and progress made.”