The number of recorded burglaries and thefts in Northamptonshire last year increased more than any other force in the whole of England and Wales, statistics released today have confirmed.
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) today published crime statistics for every force in the country.
The figures, which were first revealed in the Chron in April, show crime across the county was down by five per cent.
However, it also reveals that despite an overall fall in crime, only police in Cheshire, Kent and South Wales saw smaller percentage falls.
It also reveals that burglary in Northamptonshire increased at a faster rate than anywhere else in the county between April 1, 2012 and March 13, 2013.
Dwelling house burglary across the county went up by 27 per cent, the biggest rise in England and Wales.
The number of thefts from a person across the county almost doubled, going up by 48 per cent - again the biggest increase anywhere in the country.
It comes as Northamptonshire was today named as one of five police forces that will struggle to cope with future budget cuts by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary’s (HMIC).
Inspectors said they were “deeply disappointed” with “missed opportunities” to drive major efficiencies in some forces.
Others would struggle to accommodate future cutbacks, they found, identifying police forces in West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Bedfordshire and Lincolnshire, as well as Northamptonshire.
The crime statistics, which were revealed by Northamptonshire Police in April but have been published today by ONS, are;
Total crime - down by five per cent
Total crime (excluding fraud) - down by four per cent
Violence against the person - down by 12 per cent
Violence with injury - down by 13 per cent
Violence without injury - down by 12 per cent
Sexual offences - up by five per cent
Robbery - down by 13 per cent
Theft - up by three per cent
Burglary - up by 14 per cent
Domestic burglary - up by 27 per cent
Non-domestic burglary - up by four per cent
Vehicle offences - up by nine per cent
Theft from the person - up 48 per cent
Bicycle theft - down by 23 per cent
Shoplifting - up by 18 per cent
All other theft offences - down by 21 per cent
Criminal damage and arson - down by 10 per cent
Drug offences - down by eight per cent
Possession of weapons offences - down by 12 per cent
Public order offences - down by 20 per cent
Miscellaneous crimes against society - down by 11 per cent
Fraud - down by 31 per cent
Across the county, crime has fallen to a new low despite cuts to police budgets and rank and file numbers, official figures show.
But the number of reported rapes has risen by two per cent in the past year, with the increase thought to be linked to the knock-on effect of the Jimmy Savile investigation.
Fraud has also soared by 27 per cent though overall crime is down by nine percent on last year - the lowest level since the Crime Survey for England and Wales began in 1981, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
The data was released as the body representing rank and file officers warned forces would be unable to cope with a repeat of the 2011 riots as a result of Government austerity measures.
Prime Minister David Cameron hailed today’s figures as “good news”.
Speaking during a visit to Hammersmith police station in west London, the Prime Minister said: “This is good news because we see a reduction both in recorded crime and in the British Crime Survey, which shows that crime now is at its lowest level since 1981.
“I think we should congratulate the police. As a Government we have asked them to do more with less resources. They have performed, I think, magnificently and I think all the work that has gone into crime prevention has helped as well.
“This is good news, that Britain is getting safer as well as stronger.”