Dorset's soaring crime figures are partly a reflection of 'improvements to recording', the county's commissioner says.

As reported in the Daily Echo, crimes of violence are up by 25 per cent in a year. Latest figures reveal there were 17,950 offences of violence against the person in the year to December 2018 compared with 14,329 in 2017.

Overall crime in the county went up by nine per cent.

Offences of stalking and harassment increased 75 per cent, from 2,336 to 4,087, with sex offences and robbery also showing marked increases.

Police and crime commissioner Martyn Underhill said: "The rise in recorded crime in Dorset is in line with increases which have been seen by many other forces across the country. Although there has been a genuine increase in certain crimes, the increase also reflects improvements made by Dorset Police - through better recording and robust enforcement activity.

"These figures also highlight the fact that Dorset Police continues to experience a rise in demand, while overall budgets have been cut over the last decade.

"I have called time and time again for a fairer funding settlement and will continue to lobby government to get a better deal for Dorset.

“I shall continue to work with the police and other partners to find effective ways of reducing crime across Dorset." A spokesperson from Dorset Police said the county ranks as the 13th safest county in the country, up from 14th in the 12-month period to September 2018.