VIOLENT offences in Suffolk increased by more than seven per cent this year, but overall crime is down, figures revealed today.The annual performance report, compiled for the Suffolk Police Authority, shows out of a total of 52,101 crimes reported in the county, 11,232 of them were for violent crime.

VIOLENT offences in Suffolk increased by more than seven per cent this year, but overall crime is down, figures revealed today.

The annual performance report, compiled for the Suffolk Police Authority, shows out of a total of 52,101 crimes reported in the county, 11,232 of them were for violent crime.

The survey lists crimes reported to police between April 2004 and March 2005 and compares them to the same period for the previous year.

The number of reported crimes in Suffolk over this period dropped by 2.5 pc from last year's total of 53,443.

Of all crimes reported this year, 1,787 were domestic burglaries, 260 were robberies, 5,463 were vehicle crimes and 12,781 were incidents of criminal damage.

Violent crime increased by 7.4pc on last year's total of 10,460 offences, while the biggest reduction was in the number of burglaries reported, which dropped by 25.1pc.

In the same period 30 robberies were reported to police in Suffolk, amounting to a 10.3pc reduction this year.

There has also been a 5.5pc fall in vehicle crime, a three pc reduction in theft and a 0.3pc reduction in criminal damage.

But a survey carried out by police revealed that between 2003-2004, 44.8pc of people said they felt safe in the area they live in.

This year only 38.7pc said they felt safe – leading to a 6.1pc drop in confidence in the area.

Anna Woolnough, spokeswoman for Suffolk police said the overall picture is good.

"Crime is down in Suffolk," she said.

"Police have continued to target those people who commit crime and as a result house burglary, robbery, vehicle crime and thefts are all down.

"The overall picture is extremely positive, crime has been reduced in key categories, while detection rates remain amongst the highest in the country."

She added: "Suffolk is not immune to the national trend towards an increase in violent crime. The Constabulary will continue to work with its partner agencies and organisations to tackle violent crime, with emphasis put on clamping down on drink-fuelled violence through joint operations such as Nightsafe."