The way people are meeting potential partners is changing - and with new technology comes fresh dangers.

Figures show crimes relating to dating apps have increased 10-fold over the past three years in Kent - with reported offences including blackmail, sex attacks, harassment and even attempted murder.

While the numbers are low - increasing from one crime in 2013, to two in 2014 and then jumping to 10 last year - people are being warned to take care when meeting up with users they barely know via the likes of Tinder and Grindr.

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When training manager Ian Garrod met up with a man he had exchanged messages with on the gay dating app Grindr, he could not have imagined it would result in him fighting for his life in hospital.

The liaison at his home in Swale took a violent turn when, during a sex session, drug addict Shane Dunn took a kitchen knife and slashed Mr Garrod's throat.

Last year, Dunn, 25, of Victoria Road, Tunbridge Wells, was convicted of wounding with intent.

Sentencing Dunn to 12 years in prison, Judge Jeremy Carey said: "I am not going to make any comment about Grindr - about people who are willing to take in others they hardly know and have relations with them when drugs have been smoked.

"It doesn't assist anyone but it is a pretty shocking state of affairs."

It is an extreme case, but one which highlights the potential dangers of so-called "hook-up apps" which put users into contact with virtual strangers.

Grindr, which is the world's most popular dating app for gay and bisexual men, allows users to find potential partners based on their location.

It hit headlines again last year, when Stephen Port was charged with murdering four men he met through the app, including former Dartford Grammar pupil Daniel Whitworth, 21, from Gravesend.

Port, 40, from Barking, is due to enter pleas to the charges in April.

The hugely-successful Tinder, which was launched in 2012, allows users to "swipe" left or right to either connect with or reject other users based on their photo.

While most people who use such apps are well-meaning – with many meetings leading to relationships and even marriage – a sinister minority are using the increasingly popular medium as a way to prey on would-be victims.

Emma Fox, 20, from Gravesend, met her boyfriend on Tinder.

But despite a positive outcome, she describes facing aggression, unwanted sexual advances and even rape threats while using the app.

She says: "I didn't meet up with anyone else apart from my boyfriend - I think I was just worried about the whole thing - but I did match with quite a few people and some of them I had relatively decent conversations with.

"Some people on it are quite weird so you do have to limit the people you talk to and be wary of the information you send out.

"It's often when you say 'no I don't want to continue talking to you' that people get very, very aggressive.

"I've had people say 'I'm going to rape you' just because I've decided not to talk to them. It's because they hide behind that screen.

"For people in a modern society to think they can still say that to women, it's disgusting."

"It is a pretty shocking state of affairs" - Judge Jeremy Carey

Superintendent Simon Thompson from Kent Police describes dating app crime as a "fast and expanding area", but says the force has adapted to the challenges it presents.

He says: "These are still very small numbers, but even one offence is too many and that's why we're very keen to provide some crime prevention messages and advice to people.

"The vast majority of people who use these sites are sincere and honest in their use. However there is always a very small minority who have other purposes.

"Some of the dangers that can come from this are harassment and stalking offences, assaults, theft and sometimes fraud as well.

"However, I'd like to stress that there is a very small likelihood of being involved in such offences but it is important people understand and remember the precautionary measures.

"This is a fast and expanding area of crime. These crimes have always existed, but it's just a new way of enabling them.

"But we are a forward thinking and innovative force and we're really well prepared for this and committed to staying one step ahead of those very small number who'd look to offend using technology."

Despite both Tinder and Grindr imposing an age restriction of 18, sexual predators have used them to target youngsters.

In 2014, former Medway teacher Gary Pearce was convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy he met up with after grooming him on Grindr.

The 40-year-old, of Ellenborough Road, Sidcup – who previously worked as a geography teacher at St John Fisher School in Chatham - was jailed for five years.

And in December, Leigh Gibbons, 33, of Seasalter Close, Warden Bay, was handed a community order after naked images of a 15-year-old boy he had met on Grindr were found on his phone.

Supt Thompson added: "Parents need to be aware of what their children are using in terms of social networking sites, apps and websites in general.

"The best advice is talk to your children about what sites they're on, and really explain what the dangers are and what they should be looking out for."

Tinder and Grindr have not responded to requests for a comment.

Additional reporting by Kiran Kaur and Nicola Everett.