The number of people caught with guns and knives in Waverley has more than doubled, while household burglaries have risen by 81 per cent - according to the latest police recorded crime statistics.

There were 34 weapons possession offences in the borough in 2017, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). These can include hand guns, knives and even corrosive acid.

That figure is up 142.9 per cent on 2016, when 14 incidents were recorded.

Overall, police recorded crime in Waverley increased in 2017. During the last year 5,357 crimes were recorded, up by 16 per cent on 2016.

This means that 43 out of every 1,000 residents in Waverley experienced a crime during 2017, below the England and Wales average of 81.

Another shock increase saw household burglaries rise by 81 per cent in Waverley in 2017. There were 371 break-ins during 2017, compared with 205 over the previous year. This incorporates a notable spike in offences in the Farnham area this winter.

There has been one homicide, the term used for murder or manslaughter, while theft, one of the most high volume crimes, has increased by 21 per cent.

Drugs-related offences rose by 14.9 per cent and criminal damage, which includes arson and vandalising cars and houses, has gone up, from 726 incidents in 2016, to 791.

While violence with injury, which includes assault, GBH and wounding, has dropped, the ONS warns it is tough to judge as police recording in this area has improved over the last couple of years.

Similarly, sexual crime statistics are hard to judge as many more victims are now coming forward due to a series of high profile cases. In Waverley, there were 158 incidents recorded in 2017, a four per cent rise on the previous year, when 152 crimes were reported.

The ONS data coincides with the release of Surrey Police’s end-of-year crime statistics for 2017/18, showing recorded crime increased 14 per cent across the county during this period.

Surrey’s own statistics do, however, indicate the rate recorded crime has been increasing is beginning to slow - down from the 20 per cent increase seen mid-way through the year in October 2017.

The force believes this indicates police activity to tackle the rise in recorded crime “is beginning to make a difference”.

“As previously reported there is a national increase in crime and Surrey is part of this national trend,” added a police spokesman.

“However, Surrey is still one of the safest counties in the country and despite the rise our crime rates are still lower than most other counties.”

Commenting specifically on the increase in burglaries, Surrey Police’s deputy chief constable Gavin Stephens added: “We started a number of proactive burglary initiatives in 2017 to address the increase.

“Following the implementation of this activity, the volume of burglaries has dropped to expected levels – showing our response is turning the tide.”

Other key areas the force says are contributing to the increase are: rises in non-recent offences including sexual abuse, in crime relating to domestic abuse, and tighter rules about crime data recording.