Sex offences increase by almost half

Crime in Kent has soared compared with the rest of the country, with sex offences up by almost half.

Nationally, crime has fallen by 10% on average, but Kent bucked the trend with an 8% increase last September, not including fraud, against the previous year.

The data, published by the Office for National Statistics, reveal there were 1,921 reported sexual offences, up by 49% on the same period in 2012.

Violent attacks have also gone up dramatically to 21,580, with 19% more incidents reported.

Burglary has also shot up, with 14% more break-ins recorded, but the number of frauds reported has fallen from 937 to just 75.

Nationally, Kent has the highest increase in total crime, but it is thought this may be down to action taken to tackle allegations of under-recording of crime.

Chief Constable of Kent Alan Pughsley said: “Violent crime, burglary and theft remain priorities for us, and we have focused on these areas in the past year, with weeks and days of action targeting those carrying out these offences.

“Recent improvements in the way crime is recorded in Kent, following the HMIC inspection earlier this year, has seen a more vigorous recording of offences, particularly affecting violence and sexual offences.” Kent Police now records 96% of crimes accurately according to Home Office rules.