Robberies in England have soared - but Bradford is bucking the trend.

An annual Government study shows that, nationally, there were 168 robberies per 100,000 people in 2004-5, compared to 72 per 100,000 in 1990.

In Yorkshire and Humberside, there was a similar increase over the 15 years - a 135 per cent rise from 41 to 98 per 100,000, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs figures.

But a senior Bradford police officer said the city was faring well compared to elsewhere.

Chief Inspector Bill Hall, of Bradford South Police, said the city's number of reported robberies was below average and detection rates were better.

Between last April and November there were 195 robberies in the division - up from 153 for the same period in 2004.

But there had been a "blip" in the summer when a gang committed a series of offences. Chief Insp Hall said: "We had a hiccup over a short period but we traced the people involved who are now in custody and we are back to normal levels.

"Robbery is a small part of overall crime and generally crime is down.

"The definition of robbery can be misunderstood. A kid may be holding his bike and is pushed in the chest by another kid, causing him to drop the bike, which is ridden away - that is a robbery.

"A schoolboy who says, 'Give us your dinner money or I will hurt you' - that is also a robbery. Robberies where actual violence is used, which would worry people, are few and far between."

He said the current detection rate for robbery was 32.3 per cent. Violent crime has a detection rate of 44 per cent.

He added: "In our division we have a lot less than one robbery a day - very low. Tens of thousands of people pass through the Interchange every day.

"People shouldn't worry. Their chances of being robbed are very remote."