RECORDED crime in Lancashire increased by 8.1 per cent for the year to March 2001.

The figures mean police recorded 8,800 more crimes across the county in the last 12 months, but the local force claims that the surge reflects changing in recording standards.

Recording procedures have been tightened up in the past 12 months after a report from the police inspectorate calling for crime to be recorded to 'a common standard'.

Det Ch Sup Adrian McAllister, crime support co-ordinator for Lancashire Police, said: "The report recognised that crime recording is an extremely complex process and it recommended that all forces needed to put into place more accurate recording systems backed up by regular audits.

"We have now complied with these here in Lancashire and there is no doubt that the rise in some of our crime levels is largely attributable to the changes we have introduced.

"We knew that this would be the case which is why we were cautious in our comments when the last published figure showed a drop in crime in the county.

"We are one of the first forces to adopt the new recording methods which will help us to close the gap with the British Crime Survey.

"This is widely regarded as the most accurate of the crime statistics produced centrally and we have been making great progress towards matching them.

"It is vitally important that our statistics reflect the true picture of what is happening in order that we and, increasingly, our partners can direct resources to the areas where crime is occurring.

"Despite the increases recorded in some crimes we remain well on course to meet our five year targets for burglaries and vehicle crime.

"And we are continuing to work very closely with our colleagues in our local community safety partnerships in a joint effort to tackle crimes such as violence."

Members of the Lancashire police authority will consider the report later this month.