TOTAL recorded crime in Gwent rose by four per cent in the 12 months to September 2016, compared to the previous year.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics - which details crime figures for the 43 police forces in England and Wales - reveal that the increase in Gwent was the ninth lowest overall for the 12-month period.

An increase of six per cent was recorded Wales-wide.

Crimes classed as 'violence against the person' rose by 13 per cent in Gwent during the year to September 2016, compared to 21 per cent in Wales as a whole.

Recorded sexual offences were down five per cent in the year in Gwent - with the force being one of only three in England and Wales to register a decrease. But across Wales, such crimes were up 19 per cent.

In contrast, there was an 11 per cent increase in robbery in Gwent, whereas there was no change in the all-Wales figure compared to September 2015.

Thefts and burglaries were each down one per cent in Gwent, below the all-Wales decreases of three per cent and seven per cent respectively.

The rate of recorded domestic burglaries in Gwent remained unchanged during the year to September 2016, while non-domestic burglaries fell by two per cent.

There was also a three per cent reduction in vehicle offences and an eight per cent reduction in bicycle thefts, though 'thefts from the person' were up nine per cent. Shoplifting was up nine per cent.

Recorded drug offences in Gwent were down 23 per cent - the fourth best performance in England and Wales - against a 15 per cent reduction Wales-wide.

In Gwent, possession of weapons offences rose six per cent, while there were big increases in public order offences (19 per cent) and in the category called 'miscellaneous offences against society' (22 per cent).