CRIME has rocketed by seven per cent in the past 12 months.

That's the figure for Cheshire, according to the British Crime Survey published on Friday.

While overall recorded crimes have risen in Cheshire, only violent crimes had increased, by 10 per cent.

Yet police say that the rise means officers are simply detecting more violent crimes.

Inspector David Bates said: "Violent crime covers a lot from murder to harassment or yobbish behaviour.

"Some of our activity has driven the figures up."

Burglaries have reduced by eight per cent and car crime down by four per cent.

The figures measure people's experience of crime, which is on a par with the same study a year ago.

David Smith, regional crime director at the Government office for the north west said: "Crime has on the whole been pegged to last year's levels.

"There is more work to do on violent crime and criminal damage, but the north west is no different to large parts of the country here."