CRIME is on the increase in Colchester for the first time in four years.

Figures show 440 more crimes were reported to police between April and August, compared with the same period last year.

Colchester Council’s crime and disorder committee heard an extra 52 burglaries at commercial properties, 34 more robberies and 29 additional sexual offences had been reported. Violent crime increased with an extra 39 assaults.

Antisocial behaviour saw a dramatic decrease, with 529 fewer incidents reported.

Tim Young, Colchester councillor responsible for housing and community safety, said: “I am disappointed. Overall, they say acquisitive crime goes up in a recession, but I’m concerned about the other areas of increase and, that with cuts to police budgets, crime will continue to rise.

“I think we need to address that with police and other agencies to make sure we don’t see a spiralling increase over the next few years.”

The number of crimes reported in Colchester dropped for the third year in a row in 2009/10 to 10,361 from 12,491 in 2006/07.

Chief Supt Alison Newcomb, divisional commander, said it has been difficult to sustain the fall, particularly when police were trying to charge more people fighting in the town centre at weekends.

She added: “Crime has dropped four to five per cent year on year, but there will be a point where it becomes difficult to go any further.

“By getting out there and arresting people before a violent crime is committed, that can drive up the figures. It’s a fine balance about how you achieve a reduction.”

Police in Colchester and Clacton are trying to tackle violent crime through the One Punch campaign.

The force wants to charge more people arrested for fighting in the town centres at the weekend.

Mrs Newcomb did not have the net figures for April to August this year.