Rape reports have increased by 60 per cent - but a leading police officer says that's down to victims feeling more comfortable about coming forward.

The number of rape allegations made to Thames Valley Police in the Chiltern and South Bucks area went up from 28 in 2013-14 to 45 in the 12 months up to March 31, 2015.

The area's new policing commander, Supt Yvette Hitch, said that was down to more people coming forward after seeing a number of high profile convictions.

She said: "I see it as a positive. It's the same across the country - people are reporting it more.

"It's down to people being more confident in coming forward in reporting it as they have seen some high profile cases.

"People are being reassured the police are beginning to take them seriously."

Reporting of other sexual offences and violence in the district also increased - but figures out this week showed the overall level of crime had gone down by 12.5 per cent.

This includes a 36.9 per cent reduction in the number of burglaries committed.

Supt Hitch said: "For several years burglary has been quite a big crime here - this is an enormous reduction."