Communities across Bradford are being hit by rising crime, with one constituency seeing crime levels soar by more than a third.

Councillors are scheduled to discuss a series of reports to area committees, which outline how the district’s three inner city constituencies have all seen a rise in crime in the last year.

While calls have been made for more resources to be ploughed into the force, West Yorkshire Police and Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, say that much of the rise is a result of improved crime recording practices.

And Mr Burns-Williamson added the force is currently recruiting and more than 100 officers will be going directly to Bradford.

A report to the Bradford South Area Committee reveals that crime has surged by more than a third when the same four-month period is compared year on year.

Figures for the area show that 3,523 crimes were recorded between April and July 2016. But in the same period this year, that figure had risen to 4,884, equating to a 39 per cent increase.

That included a rise in robberies, thefts from vehicles, shoplifting and burglaries.

On figures for a year-long period, Inspector Daniel Ware, from the Bradford South Area Neighbourhood Team, said 11,392 crimes were recorded in the constituency between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017 - a 13 per cent increase on the previous year’s reported crime, which mirrored the district-wide 13 per cent rise.

The report also shows a rise in hate crime and a rise in the number of calls for the Antisocial Behaviour Action Team.

And violent crime, ‘other theft’ and criminal damage account for 68 per cent of all crime in Bradford South.

In his report, Insp Ware said that while the increasing crime figures are “of concern”, they are not in isolation and reflect the work being done to attack criminality.

The report outlines officers in Bradford South attend the highest number of incidents per officer of all the police ward areas across the district and says they are increasing the use of mobile and handheld devices to help achieve this.

It also touches on the recent spate of retail crime in Wyke. A number of businesses spoke to the Telegraph & Argus after they fell victim to repeated raids.

Insp Ware said uniformed and plain clothes patrols have been stepped up in the village, Crime Prevention Officers have visited businesses, suspects have been arrested and Criminal Behaviour Orders have been issued against ring leaders.

The report says that recorded burglaries against retail premises have reduced from five at their peak in May, to two in August and while Wyke accounts for the second lowest number of recorded crime police “...are not complacent and continue to work with the local community, councillors and partners to identify and tackle crime and related ASB”.

Bradford South MP Judith Cummins, who is due to meet with police, councillors and traders next week, described the rise in crime in the constituency as a “worrying trend” and said police cuts have led to fewer officers protecting communities.

She said: “I have called upon the government time and time again to give those who protect us the resources they need.”

And last night, councillors on the Bradford East Area Committee were discussing a report which showed the constituency had also fallen victim to increasing crime rates.

Crime figures for April to July 2016 stood at 4,885 and at 5,550 for the same period in 2017 – a 14 per cent rise.

From June 2016 to May 2017, there was a rise in call-outs for the Antisocial Behaviour Action Team, but a reduction in hate crime.

In her report, Inspector Diane Collins acknowledged the increase, but said multiple crimes can be recorded at one incident.

She said: “This will explain some of the increase, however the trend in some crime types is also seeing an upward trend especially around internet use. However, there are good news stories around crime trends and that is the reduction of

recorded burglary dwelling offences. In our area we have recorded over 50 less offences than the same period last year. We still see a number of burglaries that involve insecure premises.

“My team are working hard to ensure that our residents take basic crime prevention steps.”

Insp Collins added that she would be increasing her ward officer team.

Bradford East MP Imran Hussain said Government cuts had seen West Yorkshire Police lost £140 million since 2010, forcing a reduction on police presence.

He added that while questions have to be asked over why the crime rate is increasing, the roll-out of mobile digital recording, reducing the time officers spend at desks, and reducing time spent in court through the increased use of body cameras is positive to see.

Between April 2016 and the end of March 2017, Bradford West saw an increase of nine per cent of total recorded crime over the previous year, which a report to councillors outlines as the lowest increase across police ward areas and below the Bradford district average increase of 13 per cent.

From April 2016 to July 2016, the crime figure stood at 3,765 and rose to 4,062 in the same period this year - an eight per cent rise.

Bradford West MP Naz Shah said while the nine per cent figure was “alarming” it should be put in context.

“Our local police appear to have been very successful at addressing the ‘Safer Communities’ priorities throughout the last year,” she said.

“There is an upward trend in some crime types such as internet based crime, which may in some way explain the crime figures. Especially as many of the more traditional crimes have reduced, such as shoplifting and robbery.

“With better reporting we are now seeing the trend in Bradford West matches the trend nationally. Crime is evolving and our Government needs to invest in new policing methods to help tackle and adapt to modern crime.”

Meanwhile, Shipley MP Philip Davies has called for more to be done to increase police numbers.

Pointing to figures released earlier this year, which show crime across the Shipley constituency rose 17 per cent from 5,479 in 2015 to 6,465 last year, Mr Davies praised West Yorkshire Police in the House of Commons for “valiantly” dealing the surge in crime but urged Home Office ministers to act to protect the public and tackle the “very real and very worrying spike” in his constituency.

Chief Inspector Jo Beecroft, Neighbourhoods Lead for Bradford District, said much of the rise is due to improved crime recording practices, along with more confidence by the public to come forward. Ch Insp Beecroft added that protecting communities is a top priority.

Mark Burns-Williamson- West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, added that while figures have been heavily impacted by improvements to crime recording practises, there are some genuine increases in certain crime types. He added that the recruitment was now open and more than 100 officers will be going directly to Bradford.