OVERALL crime figures continue to fall in Cheshire but violent offences against a person including modern slavery, attempted murder and stalking have increased, the Office of National Statistics has revealed.

The latest figures have shown an overall reduction in recorded crime of 2.2 per cent in Cheshire – this equates to nearly 1,300 fewer victims of crime.

This is the tenth consecutive year of falling recorded crime figures in the county with Cheshire one of only four areas in England and Wales where crime figures continue to fall.

Police and crime commissioner David Keane welcomed the news but said more still needs to be done to protect those who live in Cheshire.

He said: “It’s a credit to the hard work of officers and staff which I’ve seen first hand over the last two months.

"This has been reflected in what the public are telling me as I travel the county listening to residents as I develop Cheshire’s new police and crime plan.

"But I’ve also heard their concerns about the night-time economy in some of our towns.

"I want to see more being done to further tackle public disorder, drug and alcohol abuse, which can make people wary about visiting our town centres in the evening."

The statistics show a large fall of 17.2 per cent in vehicle crime along with a 16 per cent reduction in burglaries.

But violent crimes have increased which includes modern slavery, serious assaults, death by dangerous driving, attempted murder and stalking and harassment.

Chief constable Simon Byrne said: "While violence against a person has increased, it’s important to put this into context, and to highlight the work the force is doing, alongside local councils, to make our towns and villages safer, especially in the evenings.

“We’re taking firm action against those bars and clubs that aren’t keeping our young people safe, as has been seen recently by the work we’ve done to close premises in Chester and Warrington where we’ve identified problems."

According to figures from the Criminal Prosecution Service (CPS), successful convictions have increased at both magistrate and crown courts at 91 per cent and 85 per cent respectively in Cheshire.