SEXUAL offences, violent crime and thefts from vehicles increased in East Hampshire and the surrounding areas over the last year, new figures have revealed.

The incidents of violent crime against people in the central area of Hampshire - which includes Bordon, Alton and Petersfield - were up 31.9 per cent over the last year, while sexual offences rose by 39.4 per cent and theft from vehicles increased by 31.9 per cent.

However, the figures, which have been published by the Home Office, show that this is a picture that has been reflected nationally as the number of incidents of violent crime shot up by 22 per cent during the last year.

But Home Office experts said that the figures rose because of changes introduced to the way police record crimes in the last year.

Under the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) more incidents are classified as crime and that is why the numbers have inflated, according to the Home Office.

Independent figures from the annual British Crime Survey, compiled following interviews with 40,000 adults, supported the Home OfficeÕs claim that crime is falling.

Hampshire Police also backed up the governmentÕs claim that the rise was due to the different ways in which police officers now record crime.

In the last year 1,429 people in central Hampshire fell victim to violence compared to 1,083 the previous year, while 145 people suffered sexual offences, up from 104 the previous year.

Robberies against the person were up as well with 45 people having items stolen last year, compared to 36 the previous year - a rise of 25 per cent. There was bad news for motorists with vehicle thefts up from 235 the previous year to 248 last year - a rise of 5.5 per cent, and thefts from vehicles rose from 720 to 950 - a rise of 31.9 per cent.

But, there was some good news with household burglaries down from 521 the previous year to 481 last year - a reduction of 7.7 per cent.

The figures also showed that detection rates across Hampshire are among the highest in the country, with officers achieving a detection rate of 30 per cent over the 12 months between April 2002 to April 2003 - significantly above the national average of 26 per cent.

Overall across Hampshire crime levels rose from 135,961 to 152,664 - an increase of just over 12 per cent. While nationally, recorded crime levels rose by around 10 per cent.

Assistant Chief Constable Graham Wyeth said he was ÒpleasedÓ with the forceÕs increase in detection rates.

ÒCrime levels have shown a rise, but the Home Office acknowledges that these increases were largely due to the implementation of the National Crime Recording Standard and that, overall, the picture is not very different to last yearÕs.

ÒWe are particularly pleased by the increase in detection rates and by our performance on domestic burglaries, which have fallen by 58 per cent in the last 10 years.

ÒVehicle crime has also fallen by 45 per cent over the past 10 years and we are committed to driving the number of offences in both these categories, and across the board, down further in the coming months.Ó

In the Whitehill division Ð which includes Liphook, Lindford, Bordon, Whitehill, Grayshott and Headley Down Ð total levels of crime rose from 1,400 to 1,843 - an increase of 31.6 per cent.

While household burglaries rose from 56 to 65 last year - a rise of 16.1 per cent, violent crime shot up from 280 to 318 - an increase of 13.6 per cent.

But while the figures show that crime has risen in the division, Inspector Gerry Thorne, of Whitehill Police, told The Herald that much of the increase was due to the changes in the way that crime is recorded.

ÒThe total crimes in this division over the last year were 1,843, which is around five crimes per day, so that is still less than one crime per parish per day,Ó he said.

ÒHowever, we do recognise that this is a significant rise over the previous yearÕs figures where the crimes were 1,400 in total. Much of that rise is because the government has changed the way that crime is recorded.

ÒWhat used to happen was that a crime would be recorded when an officer had concluded that a crime had been committed but now when anyone perceives that they have been the victim of a criminal offence it is recorded as a crime. The idea is to make it victim focused.Ó

Insp Thorne said there had been a rise in the detection rate for household burglaries, which was now at 23 per cent.

He said that one of the biggest increases in last yearÕs figures for his division was in vehicle crime.

ÒWhat used to happen was if three vehicles were targeted in one driveway that would be recorded as one crime but now with the changes we have to record that as three separate crimes,Ó he said. ÒThat has led to a massive rise.Ó

However, Insp Thorne admitted that the increase in vehicle crime could not be wholly blamed on the changes in the recording of crime.

ÒThere is evidence that has emerged over the last year that much of the vehicle crime is done as an organised activity. For example beauty spots are being targeted and some of our local vehicle crime is following distict trends.

ÒWe have repeatedy warned owners of commercial vehicles to remove all valuable equipment from their vehicles overnight or take serious measures to equip their vehicles with a security device. There is a very clear trend that those vehicles are being targeted.Ó

Insp Thorne said that the rise in violent crime could also be attributed to the change in the counting procedure.

ÒIf two people were fighting in the street, for example, and an officer attended, if both parties said it is Ôall rightÕ and they didnÕt want to report it to police, it was not recorded. Now it must be reported as two crimes as it involves two people.Ó

Insp Thorne said after this yearÕs rise in crime he hoped that next yearÕs figures would see a levelling in the level of crime in the division.

ÒWe would say that this level of crime has probably existed all along, we just have not been aware of it,Ó he said.

ÒIt certainly is not getting an any more dangerous or violent place to live. You are no more likely to be a victim of crime than you were last year.Ó