THE number of robberies and sexual crimes in Reading have both increased in the last year, according to latest figures.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows there were 257 reported robberies between July 2017 and March 2018.

These can include muggings, as well as more serious attacks, such as hold-ups with guns and knives.

That figure is up 33 per cent on 2016-17, when 194 incidents were recorded.

Statistics are based on crimes recorded with the police and the ONS urged caution in interpreting some of these figures.

Overall, police recorded crime in Reading increased between July 2017 and June 2018.

Over the 12 month period, 16,498 crimes were recorded, up by nine per cent on 2016-17.

That means there is a crime for at least one in every 10 residents in Reading, well above average for England and Wales.

Gun and knife possession offences in Reading rose by 20 to 159 incidents.

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

Across England and Wales, the number of recorded homicides rose by 14 per cent reflecting an upward trend since 2014. These figures excluded people who died in terror attacks.

There was a nine per cent increase in offences with knives or sharp objects, leading to the the highest number of incidents since March 2011, when comparable records started.

In Reading theft, one of the most high volume crimes, increased by six per cent, while drug-related offences rose by 25 per cent.

Criminal damage in Reading, which includes arson and vandalising cars and houses, has gone up, from 1,784 incidents in 2016-17, to 1,929 in the latest figures.

While violence with injury, which includes assault, GBH and wounding, has risen, this could just be due to improved police recording as opposed to an increase in incidents.

Similarly sexual crime statistics are hard to judge as many more victims are now coming forward due to a series of high profile cases.

In Reading there were 551 incidents recorded between July 2017 and June 2018, a 22 per cent rise on the previous year, when 451 crimes were reported.