NEW figures released today show violent crime in Suffolk has risen by more than 15 per cent, compared with the same period last year.But the total amount of offences committed in the county fell by 0.

NEW figures released today show violent crime in Suffolk has risen by more than 15 per cent, compared with the same period last year.

But the total amount of offences committed in the county fell by 0.5pc, with a 24pc reduction in burglaries and a 25pc drop in vehicle crime recorded.

The statistics, which contrast April, May and June this year with the same period last year, were expected to reveal a national increase in violent crime.

But Home Office Minister Hazel Blears has claimed people were "less likely to be a victim now than at any time in the last 25 years".

She said: "All the trends are that the big crimes that affect people - like burglary and robbery and vehicle crime - are down quite dramatically.

"In fact, you're less likely to be a victim now than at any time over the last 25 years.'

She said a summer crackdown on alcohol-related crime - linked to violent crime - had seen some 4,000 on-the-spot fines.

But she added more work needs to be done to reduce people's fear of crime.

The quarterly figures for Suffolk show robberies have decreased by 14.5pc and incidents of disorder by 11.5pc.

The annual crime figures, released in July, revealed Suffolk was the third safest in the country, with 80 offences recorded per 1,000 of the population.

According to its own criteria measuring key crimes under Suffolk First, the county's force is the safest in England.

Has crime increased or decreased in your community? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk