The number of robberies in Medway has increased by more than a quarter, according to the latest police recorded crime statistics.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show there were 323 cases between April 2017 and this March. These can include muggings, as well as more serious attacks such as hold ups with guns and knives.

That figure is up 27.7% on 2016-17, when 253 incidents were recorded.

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

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”.

Caroline Youell, from the 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.”

Across England and Wales there was a 16% increase in offences with knives or sharp objects and a 12% rise in homicides - murders and manslaughters - excluding charges from the Hillsborough disaster and terror attacks.

Overall, police recorded crime in Medway increased significantly in 2017-18. During the last year 31,382 crimes were recorded, up by 36% on 2016-17.

That means there was a rate of 113 crimes per 1,000 residents during 2017-18, above the England and Wales average of 82.

Gun and knife possession offences in Medway rose by 36 to 173 incidents.

There have been three homicides, which are murders or manslaughters. There were two cases of death or injury by dangerous driving.

Theft, one of the most high volume crimes, has increased by 14%. Drugs related offences dropped by 12.3%.

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.

Chief Constable Bill Skelly, of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: “Police forces are targeting crime hotspots, using powers of stop and search and active engagement with communities to prevent violence.

“The causes and drivers of rising violence and related crimes are complex, and so the solutions must focus on early intervention and involve a range of action from government, education, health, social services, housing and victim services.

“To bring down robbery and burglary police target prolific offenders and links to organised crime but we also need the public to help by taking simple crime prevention measures.”

Criminal damage, which includes arson and vandalising cars and houses, has gone up, from 3,052 incidents in 2016-17, to 3,665 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 Medway there were 1,232 incidents recorded in 2017-18,

This is a 68% rise on the previous year, when 734 crimes were reported.

There were also 2,469 cases of stalking and harassment reported over the same period.

Ché Donald, vice chairman of the Police Federation for England and Wales, commented: “These new figures are proof, as if we even needed it, that policing in the UK is on the critical list.”