Crime across the Thames Valley has increased for the first time in ten years, new figures released today have revealed. 

There were 129,611 crimes reported across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire from April 2015 until the end of March 2016, according to Thames Valley Police. 

Violence against the person has increased by 30.3 per cent on last year to 28,319, while robbery has increased by 7.6 per cent on last year.

However, the number of robberies has fallen by over 50 per cent compared with five and ten years ago.

Burglary has continued to fall across the area, with burglary dwelling at a 42 year low with just 4,379 in 2015/16 a drop of 1.5 per cent on the previous year.

Burglary (non-dwelling) has also dropped by 3.9 per cent and anti-social behaviour has fallen in the past five years.

There were over 44,000 less incidents this year compared with 2010/11, with just 34,404 recorded this year.

There has also been a 21.4 per cent increase in reports of sexual offences, with a 37.3 per cent increase in report of rape and domestic abuse reports have increased by 19.5 per cent.

However, overall crime levels in Thames Valley are low compared with five and ten years ago - there were 67,000 fewer crimes reported this year than in 2005/2006, and 39,000 fewer than in 2010/2011. 

Deputy Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police John Campbell, said: "I am proud of the work our officers are doing to protect the most vulnerable people in our communities and our contribution to making the Thames Valley a safe place to live and work.

"I believe that the rise that we have seen this year in the reporting of domestic abuse and sexual offences demonstrates the growing confidence of victims that they will be treated with compassion and sensitivity by our officers.

"Despite the increases in violent crime on last year, which may on the face appear to be concerning, we are confident that the increases are down to better recording, and that the Thames Valley has some of the lowest levels of violent crime in the country."