MORE than 3,000 crimes were committed last year in Craven, representing a 15 per cent increase, the equivalent of one extra crime per day.

Between April 1 2001 and March 31 2002, a total of 3,147 crimes were recorded.

These included 175 burglaries from dwellings, 414 burglaries from other properties, such as shops, sheds, garages; 443 violent crimes; 354 auto-crimes, including thefts of as well as from vehicles; 75 arrests for drug offences, including seven for supply of class A drugs; and 617 incidents of criminal damage.

Across the region, the policing areas of Skipton, Cross Hills, Settle and Ingleton all saw an increase in crime, with only Grassington area seeing a drop.

Settle saw the largest rise, most dramatically for non-dwellings burglaries which have doubled since last year - from 34 to 70 incidents.

In comparison with other areas in North Yorkshire, Craven's increase in crime is slightly less than the central area (including York) which rose by 17 per cent and slightly more than the Eastern area (including Scarborough) which rose by 12 per cent.

The overall increase across North Yorkshire was the same at 15 per cent.

The detection rate of crimes remains high at 30 per cent, and there have been 1,304 arrests - an increase of 178 from last year.

Chief inspector Nick Smedley, the district co-ordinator, said: "The trend across North Yorkshire has been an increase in crime and in fact the force trend is 15 per cent which matches Craven.

"It must be stressed that Craven is a very low crime area and a very safe place to live and visit.

"Our figures show that we are actually working hard, and our detection rates and the arrests show that we are dealing with a lot of this crime.

"We are quite successful. We have got all sorts of ideas we are trying out this year - not just the police but in conjunction with other agencies.

"Hopefully we can make an in-road into this increase. That is our aim.

"We are working harder and getting better results."

Chief Insp Smedley said that a new crime reduction strategy had begun for Craven from March 2002, targeting burglary, auto-crime, drugs and violence.

Other key issues are anti-social behaviour, fear of crime, criminal damage and retail crime.

The issues will be tackled in partnership with other interested agencies through new locally-based multi-agency problem solving groups.

These will meet approximately once a month and look at specific problems in specific areas rather than across Craven as a whole.