Sex attacks, robberies and violent attacks have soared in some parts of the district in the past 12 months, according to new figures.

Recorded crime statistics released today show the number of sex offences in Bradford North police division have increased from 161 in 2004/05 to 201 in 2005/06.

The Home Office figures show a rise in sex offences across the four divisions of Bradford North, Bradford South, Calderdale, Keighley and the whole of West Yorkshire.

Robberies across West Yorkshire rose by 15 per cent overall with most parts of Bradford district higher than the the district average.

Bradford South saw a staggering 31 per cent increase with 285 cases compared with 217 the previous year.

Bradford North also saw increases with 190 cases reported in 2005/06, compared with 147 in 2004/05 - a 29 per cent increase.

Calderdale was the only area where the increase was lower than the average of West Yorkshire at eight per cent.

Despite violent crime rising in West Yorkshire by ten per cent from 44,609 cases to 48,879 - and across the district as a whole - only Calderdale saw a larger increase with 17 per cent.

Meanwhile house burglary, vehicle theft and theft from vehicles dropped significantly in most parts of the district. West Yorkshire saw a 12 per cent decrease in the number of house burglaries with Keighley slashing then by 21 per cent to 240.

Car thefts in the area saw a 25 per cent decrease with Bradford North seeing 565 fewer incidents reported - a 37 per cent decrease.

The number of thefts from cars also dropped in Calderdale, but rose in Bradford North, Bradford South and Keighley.

Assistant Chief Constable David Crompton welcomed a two per cent overall reduction in crime figures in West Yorkshire with 4,647 fewer offences.

He said: "We are pleased that crime continues to go down across the county. We have sustained continued reductions in high volume crimes such as house burglaries - current levels are less than half those of four years ago.

"We are now working hard to sustain continued reductions in crimes such as burglary and vehicle crime and to reduce violent crime."

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