VIOLENT crimes in Cheshire increased by 28 per cent in the past year, police figures have revealed.

In 2015/16 there were 8,301 violent incidents reported compared to 6,480 in 2014/15, according to internal Cheshire Police figures, which run from April 1 to March 31.

There were 6,733 reports of assault with injury and racially or religiously aggravated assault with injury in the past 12 months, an increase of 31 per cent.

Knife crimes, which include broken bottles and glass, also saw a 14 per cent increase in 2015/16, with 245 reports compared 209 in 2014/15.

Despite the increase, Chief Insp Brian Roberts said 'Cheshire remains one of the safest places to live'.

“I want to reassure Cheshire residents that we are committed to tackling all forms of violent crime − whether they result in injury or not,” he said.

“Violent crime is not acceptable in any form, whether that takes place in the home or on the streets.”

Reports of assault with intent to cause serious harm saw a 16 per cent increase in 2015/16, with 211 reports compared to 177 in 2014/15. Of that number, 30 involved a knife or sharp instrument.

There were 135 reports of threats to kill in 2015/16 compared to 113 in 2014/15, an increase of 16 per cent. However the number involving a knife or sharp instrument dropped from 27 to 22.

Reports of robbery also saw a 13 per cent increase over the past 12 months, with 270 reports in 2015/16 compared to 238 in 2014/15. Seventy-two of those involved a knife or sharp instrument.

The force also saw an increase in reports of sexual offences in the last year.

Reports of sexual assault saw an increase of 30 per cent in 2015/16, with 514 in in 2015/16 compared to 394 in 2014/15. Three of those involved a knife or sharp instrument.

Reports of rape saw a small increase, with 432 incidents recorded in 2015/16 compared to 430 the previous year. Only two incidents in both years involved a knife or sharp instrument.

Chief Insp Roberts said the rise could be down to the increased number of ways victims can report crimes.

“Violent crime has been on the increase nationally for a number of years albeit Cheshire has seen a smaller increase,” he said.

“There are a number of reasons for this – including an indication that more people are confident in reporting a crime and police forces making it easier for victims to report crime.

“This seems to be particularly true in respect of domestic abuse and sexual assault, which are both a priority for us.”

Only two violent crimes saw a decrease in the past 12 months. There was four recorded offences of attempted murder, down two from the previous year.

Two of those involved a knife or sharp instrument, a 50 per cent decrease from the following year.

There were two reports of endangering life in 2015/16 compared to 10 the previous year.

Chief Insp Roberts said: “It is important to remember that this figure includes all types of violent crime – whether it results in injury or not.

“This covers everything from a lower-level altercation to the most serious violence.

“In addition, changes have been put in place in the way we record crime to ensure accuracy and consistency.”