REPORTS of sexual offences in West Yorkshire have risen by more than 25 per cent in the last year, new figures show.

This rise is in line with figures across England and Wales, with 80,262 incidents recorded in the year to the end of December last year.

In West Yorkshire, the rise of recorded sexual offences by a quarter is from 2,748 in the year to the end of December 2013 to 3,458.

Violent crimes against people in the county are up by almost 15 per cent over the same period, from 22,026 to 25,234.

Violence with injury crimes in the county have increased by 10.2 per cent, from 11,530 to 12,706.

The number of murder victims has increased from 22 to 28 in the last 12 months.

Figures compiled by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed that recorded overall crime across West Yorkshire, including fraud, has decreased from 160,992 in the 12 months up to December 2013, to 153,284 in the 12 months up to the end of December 2014, a reduction of around five per cent.

Burglary is down by 7.9 per cent from 25,793 in December 2013 to 23,743 in December 2014.

Theft has also decreased by 9.1 per cent, vehicle crime by 9.6 per cent and burglary has reduced by 7.9 per cent.

Robbery in West Yorkshire was also down by three per cent from 1,869 to 1,813.

Councillor Michael Walls (Con, Queensbury), a member of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel, says the rise in reported sexual offences crimes may show that victims are more confident to come forward to police with historic allegations following the Jimmy Savile scandal of 2012.

He said: "The rise in sexual offences crimes is not good.

"But I do think people are more ready to report it as they are more likely to be believed now. People are more open to report it now. I think sexual offences being reported is more likely now after the Jimmy Savile situation.

"It would be interesting to know how many of these reported sexual offences crimes were historical.

"The people concerned feel that they won't be ignored now. It's a good thing that people are coming forward and being more open.

"I think these figures show good news and bad news.

"Any crime figures that are going down are obviously welcomed. But we do need more visible policing on our streets."

West Yorkshire Police did not wish to comment about these latest ONS figures, released yesterday, but reported earlier this month that crime in West Yorkshire is at a 31-year low, with 1,635 fewer victims of crime reported.

Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, previously said: "I have raised with the West Yorkshire Police Temporary Chief Constable Dee Collins the issue of increases in recorded violent crime and sexual offences and we are discussing what more can be done to bring these figures down."