RECORDED crime in Dorset has risen by 26.5 per cent, new figures reveal.

But according to Dorset Police the apparent increase in crime is because of the new National Crime Recording Standard.

Figures from the Dorset Police Authority quarterly performance review for April to June 2002 have revealed the total number of recorded crimes has risen to 16,168, from 12,750 in the same period last year.

The total number of crimes detected is shown as having gone up by 1.1 per cent.

The new recording standard means that police record an incident as a crime even if the victim or witness refuses to make a complaint.

Police chiefs believe if the government-backed recording standard had not been brought in on April 1, 2002, the level of recorded crime would have fallen. There was a two per cent decrease in incidents police were called to.

Dorset's Chief Constable Jane Stichbury said: "Dorset Police is not complacent and I want to assure the people of Dorset of the force's genuine commitment to working together with them to tackle and reduce crime as well as increase public reassurance.

"As well as the new National Crime Recording Standard, the rises in recorded crime have also been caused by an unprecedented number of major incidents - six murder investigations, two ongoing and four launched between April and June - which have placed exceptional demands on Dorset Police."

The total number of violent crimes reported was 2,418, a rise of 96.3 per cent on last year's figures of 1,232 for the same period.

Domestic violent crimes have increased by 104.5 per cent from 575 last year to 1,176, but the number of these crimes being brought to a prosecution has increased by 53.4 per cent from 459 to 704.

The report said the increase in domestic violent crime and a 12.8 per cent rise in domestic violence incidents was down to the new recording standard, as well as more encouragement in reporting these crimes.

The number of household burglaries has increased by 3.7 per cent from 789 last year to 818 but that is below the average increase of 16.4 per cent for England and Wales. In this category Dorset is ninth best out of 41 forces.

Vehicle crime has rise by 14.9 per cent from 2,035 to 2,338 due to the new standard but 44.2 per cent more of these crimes have been solved.

Thefts from unattended vehicles are up by 23.5 per cent and they account for 76 per cent of all vehicle crimes.

The remaining 24 per cent of vehicle crimes are thefts of vehicles, which have been cut by 5.9 per cent.

Fourteen per cent more people have been charged, reported, summonsed or cautioned for Class A drugs supply offences.

But the figure is not as high as expected, according to the report, in the context of the large number of major crime investigations the force has been involved in between April and June.

The report also says the new recording standard has increased the number of racially-aggravated crimes reported, from 32 to 40. Homophobic incidents have fallen by 19 per cent from 16 crimes to 13.

According to figures Dorset Police remains on course to achieve government five-year targets for reducing vehicle crime by 30 per cent by 2004 and burglary by 25 per cent by 2005.

Mrs Stitchbury said that a small police force like Dorset, with a low level of overall crime, was more susceptible to showing to large fluctuations in percentage increases.

She said: "When looking at crime rates per 1,000 people for total crime - and the four main national crime types of violence, burglary, vehicle crime and robbery - Dorset is below the national average of the 42 forces in England and Wales and still a very safe place."

Dorset's latest set of quarterly crime figures will go before the Dorset Police Authority's audit and performance review committee at County Hall in Dorchester tomorrow at 9.30am.