CRIME in Poole rose by 12 per cent last year – and an even bigger increase is being predicted for this year.

The number of public order, sexual and vehicle crime offences reported to Dorset Police last year all went up by at least 20 per cent.

Police say that improvements to its recording systems could be behind the rises with similar increases reported by forces nationally.

In total, more than 1,000 more offences were reported in Poole in 2017/18 compared to the previous year.

Public order offences rose sharpest over the 12-month period, increasing by 29 per cent and police are projecting that the overall number will more than double this year.

Burglary was the only category of crime – the other being drug offences – to fall with a six per cent reduction in reports.

However, it comes as figures published yesterday show that more than 80 per cent of break-ins went unsolved in the same period.

Detective inspector Neil Wright said: “Every case is reviewed for solvability.

“While we always investigate all viable lines of enquiry it is also honest and realistic to recognise that some crimes simply aren’t solvable if the information we are provided with or discover does not identify a suspect or provide enough evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction."

He added: “Locally, we are working with a number of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and local authorities to ensure a partnership response to tackling acquisitive crime and other incidents and crime such as anti-social behaviour.”

Using figures for crime reported from April to July, a report to Poole council's health and social care overview and scrutiny committee projects that total crime will increase by 14 per cent over this year.

Public order offences have seen the biggest rise (102 per cent) with violence against a person having the second-largest rise (37 per cent).

Dorset Police deputy chief constable David Lewis said that part of the rise was due to people having greater confidence in reporting crime but also that there had been a rise in crime.

“Back in 2015 we told the public that, after more than a decade of continual reduction in reported crime, it was expected that we would start seeing a rise and this has been reflected nationally in recent years,” he said.

“It is clear that, like other forces, the increase in recent years can in part be put down to people having greater confidence in coming forward to us, particularly for crimes such as domestic and sexual offences, and an increased emphasis on recording crime as accurately as possible.

“However, we have always vowed to be honest with our public and we must recognise that some of the increase is down to a genuine rise in crime taking place in local communities.

“This mirrors the national picture, and Dorset is still one of the safest places in the country. We continue to work hard at improving our investigative skills, finding new ways to respond to the rise in calls and working together with local partners to prevent crime.

“All officers and staff at Dorset Police remain committed to doing everything we can to keep the county a safe place to live, work and visit.”