North Yorkshire is the safest place in England, based on latest crime statistics, the force says. 

The Crime Statistics for England and Wales, published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), shows the county has the lowest rate of crime per person.

There were a total of 37,259 crimes in North Yorkshire during the year up to September 2016, giving a crime rate of 46 per 1,000 of the population.

While this reflects a 5% rise in crime in comparison to the same period the previous year, it is well below the 9% increase in England and Wales and takes into account improved crime recording standards nationally.

Broken down into the main crime categories, the ONS figures for North Yorkshire show:

• Robbery reduced by 13% (139 crimes in total)

• Burglary reduced by 3% (3,869 crimes in total. Of which 1,477 are recorded as dwelling burglaries (an 8% increase) and 2,392 non-dwelling burglaries (a 9% decrease)

• Drug offences decreased by 15% (1,669 crimes in total) • Violence against the person went up by 14% (9,313 crimes in total). This is broken down into Violence with Injury (4,575 crimes in total, 7% increase) and Violence without Injury category (4,733 crimes in total, 21% increase)

• Possession of weapons offences up by 10% (204 crimes in total)

• Theft offences up slightly by 1% (16,866 crimes in total)

• Theft from person up by 10% (504 crimes in total) • All other theft offences down by 3% (4,566 crimes in total)

• Criminal damage and arson up by 5% (5,782 crimes in total) • Vehicle Offences increased by 6% (2,356 crimes in total)

• Sexual offences increased by 17% (1,316 crimes in total).

• Public order offences up by 6% (1,333 crimes in total)

• Miscellaneous crimes against society, which includes the possession and publication of extreme sexual images, increased by 17% with 637 crimes in total

• Shoplifting increased by 3% (4,125 crimes in total)

• Bicycle theft increased by 14% (1,446 crimes in total)

Assistant Chief Constable Lisa Winward said: “North Yorkshire Police is making great efforts to continually improve the service we deliver to our communities, as well as to proactively tackle crime across the county.

“Therefore it is with great satisfaction and pride that our force area has been confirmed as the lowest crime location in England.

“This achievement is down to the dedication of our officers, police staff, special constables and volunteers who all play a part in keeping our communities safe alongside our local authority partners and other agencies.

“I also thank the hundreds of watch scheme volunteers and members of the public for their unstinting support. Your role is absolutely vital to effective policing and we are truly grateful.

“North Yorkshire Police is going from strength to strength and we are determined to keep our area as the safest place to live, work and visit in England.”