THE number of crimes reported to Lancashire Police increased by more than 10 per cent last year, figures show.

In 2016/17 there were 10,371 more crimes reported which has been attributed to improved recording procedures and practices and increases in violent crime. The increases were reflected nationally.

Reports of sexual offences were up by 21 per cent to 1,811 crimes while the number of hate crimes increased by 27.2 per cent in a year from 821 to 1,045.

There were 1,730 more reports of domestic abuse compared to 2015/16 and a 30 per cent increase in the number of child sexual exploitation reports to 1,026.

Meanwhile road safety incidents reduced by 50 to 796 incidents.

The figures were revealed in an annual report by Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw.

The report also reveals that the amount of time take to answer 999 calls increased from 4.2 seconds to 8.2 seconds in March 2017 compared to the same period in 2016, while the average time taken to answer 101 calls was 119 seconds compared to 21 seconds during the same period the year before.

Mr Grunshaw said he has to deliver a further £13.4million in savings between 2017/18 and 2019/20 to deliver a balanced budget.

The force will have saved £92 million, the equivalent of 30 per cent, of what the budget was in 2010/11.

The report also states there were 228 police officer appointments between April 2016 and March 2017 as Mr Grunshaw pledged to protect frontline policing.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “We continue to see increases in recorded crime some of which is the result of more rigorous recording standards and some of which represents a shift in the type of crime we now investigate.

“Violent crimes including sexual offences are more prevalent in comparison to some traditional theft offences and whilst some of this is a positive sign that more victims feel confident to report we know that almost half of all crime is now committed in the private not public space.

“We are encouraged by some recent data showing good conviction rates and victim satisfaction rates because we have been working hard to provide consistent and compassionate service to victims so that they feel confident to come forward.”