LEVELS of violent crime have risen across Cheshire East and West over the past year, new figures reveal.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that Cheshire Police recorded 12,475 incidents of violent crime in Cheshire East, including Knutsford and Middlewich, in the 12 months to June 2020 – an increase of 14 per cent compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile in Cheshire West, including Northwich and Winsford, 11,586 incidents were recorded in the year up to June 2020 – 16 per cent more than the previous year.

Both boroughs had a higher violent crime rate than the English average – at 33.8 per 100,000 people in Cheshire West and 32.5 per 100,000 in Cheshire East, compared to 29.5 per 100,000 nationwide.

Incidents of stalking and harassment soared across both boroughs year-on-year – from 6,312 to 8,923 – while there was also an increase of offences of violence without injury.

However, there were declines in incidents which led to injury fell across the area, as well as theft, criminal damage and public order offences.

Nine homicides across the area – including both murders and manslaughters – also represented an increase from four in the previous year.

Across England and Wales, there were four per cent fewer crimes over the year, with a noticeable drop in crime during the lockdown from April to June – with the exception of drug offences.

John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: "Although crime fell during the pandemic the pressure on the police remained.

"Policing had to adapt to a situation unlike anything we had experienced before and continues to do so even as the national lockdown was lifted and crime returned to pre-lockdown levels.

"That pressure has increased with local lockdowns being rolled out and because of the additional challenges they bring to policing."