The number of robberies, sexual offences, burglaries and violent incidents has increased across Bradford in the past year.

But car theft, theft from a car, and overall crime is down across the district, according to the British Crime Survey.

Figures show robbery increased by 18 per cent from 545 in 2008/9 to 643 in 2009/10. Burglary rose three per cent from 5,236 to 5,382 and sexual offences up two per cent from 482 to 491.

In addition violence against a person increased by one per cent from 7,528 to 7,627.

However, vehicle theft fell dramatically by 29 per cent from 1,955 to 1,389 and theft from a vehicle by 14 per cent from 4,713 to 4,057.

Overall recorded crime in Bradford fell by seven per cent from 30,308 to 28,047.

Across the West Yorkshire Police Force area, overall crime fell by nine per cent over the 12 months – higher than the eight per cent across England and Wales.

Drug offences, fraud and forgery and sexual offences are up across the region but violence, robbery, burglary, car theft and criminal damage are down.

West Yorkshire Assistant Chief Constable David Evans said: “Through major operations we are taking drugs off the streets, targeting the dealers, seizing their assets, including their houses and cars, and wherever possible we look to return that money to the community.

“Neighbourhood Policing Teams work within the heart of local communities to tackle issues which are of concern to residents.”

A more detailed picture of West Yorkshire shows there were 1,311 offences involving a knife, 14 attempted murders with a knife and 84 threats to kill with a knife.

Also included were 645 knife-related actual bodily harm or grievous bodily harm offences and 555 robberies also involved a knife and 13 rape or sexual assaults involved a knife.

In total, 197,553 crimes were reported across West Yorkshire in 2009/10 with a detection rate of 27 per cent compared to 28 per cent across England and Wales.

The survey also showed 17 per cent of people across the area had been a victim of crime at least once in the period.

It also stated that 57 per cent of people across West Yorkshire said police did an excellent or good job.

ACC Evans said: “We have entered challenging times financially and we will have to work not just harder, but smarter, in the years ahead.”