Crime in Essex has shot up by seven per cent in the past year - although it remains one of England's safest counties.

According to Home Office figures released yesterday (Tuesday), of the 39 English forces surveyed only five had a lower crime rate, even though the Essex rise was almost twice the national average.

The report shows there were 6,703 offences per 100,000 population in Essex in the 12 months under review.

The number of minor assaults, harrassment and criminal damages increased.

But there was a drop in the number of burglaries and vehicle crime - which is again lower than in most other areas of the country.

The figures also show a gradual increase in the police's detection rate - up from 27 per cent four years ago to 30 per cent.

John Broughton, Essex Assistant Chief Constable, said the force was "disappointed" with the seven per cent leap - double the rise in the previous 12 months.

But he said: "This must be seen against a trend in the south east generally in which crime has risen by more than nine per cent."

He added: "We are pleased to see that Essex is the only force in England and Wales in the past year to have achieved an increase in real detection rates - albeit by only one percentage point - and that we are above the national average for successful detections.

"This indicates that Essex police officers are working harder to secure detections and to bring those responsible for crime to justice."

He said the force would continue to focus efforts on detection and "put the fear of crime back where it belongs, in the minds of criminals".

The force believes one of the reasons for the increase in recorded crime is that more people are persuaded to report offences.

Mr Broughton said: "This increase reflects our desire to focus activity in support of the most vulnerable in our society - for example victims of domestic violence - and to increase their confidence to report matters to the police."

Home Secretary Jack Straw admitted he was ''concerned'' at the dramatic increases nationally in reports of robbery and violence.

He blamed drunken yobs and the drinking culture for rising level of street crime across England and Wales with violent offences reported to the police up 16 per cent.

But he insisted government policies were bucking the long-term trend of increasing lawlessness. A total of 5.3 million offences were reported to police in year to March, compared to 5.1 million the previous year.

Countrywide there has been a 3.8 per cent rise in crime, with a 16.1 per cent increase in violent crime including a 15 per cent rise in violence against the person and 26 per cent rise in robbery.

Property crime is up 2.5 per cent with a 19 per cent rise in fraud and forgery and 7.5 per cent increase in criminal damage.

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