The number of robberies in Fenland has increased by more than 50 per cent, according to latest police crime statistics.

Cambs Times: Robberies increased by 50 per cent in Fenland.Robberies increased by 50 per cent in Fenland. (Image: Archant)

There were 67 robberies between April 2017 and March 2018, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics. These can include muggings, as well as more serious attacks such as hold ups with guns or knives.

That figure is up 56 per cent on 2016-17, when 43 incidents were recorded.

Caroline Youell, from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), said: “Most people don’t experience crime. The figures show a fairly stable picture in England and Wales for most crime types. It is too early to say if this is a change to the long-term declining trend.

“We have seen continued increases in some theft offences such as vehicle-related theft and burglary, while computer viruses have fallen.

“There have also been increases in some lower-volume ‘high-harm’ offences such as homicide and knife crime, consistent with rises over the past three years. However, the latest rise in gun crime is much smaller than previously seen.”

The statistics are based on crimes recorded with the police, and the ONS urges caution in interpreting some of these figures she added.

Some offences go unreported while others may be more numerous due to a change in the focus of the police or greater public attention.

However statisticians said there appears to be a genuine rise in robberies as it is a crime that’s “relatively well-reported by the public and relatively well-recorded by the police”.

Overall, police recorded crime in Fenland increased in 2017-18.

During the last year 7,185 crimes were recorded, up by 12 per cent on 2016-17.

That means there was a rate of 71 crimes per 1,000 residents during 2017-18, slightly below the England and Wales average of 82.

Gun and knife possession offences in Fenland rose by 17 to 50 incidents.

There has been one homicide, a murder or manslaughter. There were three cases of death or injury by dangerous driving.

Theft, one of the most high volume crimes, has increased by 11 per cent. Drugs related offences dropped by 13 per cent.

According to the ONS police numbers are at their lowest level since 1996, when comparable records began, and nearly half of investigations into recorded crimes are closed without a suspect being identified.

In Fenland there were 181 incidents of sexual crime recorded in 2017-18, a 5 per cent rise on the previous year, when 172 crimes were reported.

There were also 254 cases of stalking and harassment reported over the same period.