Crime in Kent has soared compared to the rest of the country... with sex offences shooting up by almost half.

As crime nationally has fallen by 10% on average, Kent has bucked the trend with an 8% increase last September, not including fraud, as compared to the previous year.

The data published today by the Office for National Statistics reveal there were 1,921 reported sexual offences, up by 49% on the same period in 2012.

Violent attacks have also gone up dramatically to 21,580, with 19% more incidents reported.

Burglary has also shot up in the county, with 14% more break-ins recorded. But bike theft is down by 12%, to only 1,675 reported thefts.

And the number of frauds reported has dramatically fallen, from 937 to just 75.

Nationally crime has fallen by 10%, with most counties showing a decrease.

Kent has the highest increase in total crime, but it's thought this may be down to action taken to tackle allegations of under-recording of crime.

As part of the Annual Data Requirement (ADR), police forces in England and Wales are required to send police recorded crime data to the Home Office.

Chief Constable of Kent, Alan Pughsley said Kent Police was committed to fighting crime - focusing on key areas where an increase had been noted.

He said: “Violent crime, burglary and theft remain priorities for us and we have focused on these areas in the last year, with weeks and days of action targeting those carrying out these offences.

“Recent improvements in the way crime is recorded in Kent, following the HMIC inspection earlier this year, has seen a more vigorous recording of offences, particularly affecting violence and sexual offences.

"Kent Police remains committed to being an open and transparent force.”

The changes in recording practices since the inspection on recording crimes means that all offences in any incident are now recorded as separate crimes.

Kent Police now records 96% of crimes accurately according to Home Office rules.