VIOLENT crime in Bolton has risen by nearly half in the last 12 months.

New figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that 4,208 violent crimes were recorded in the year ending in March, 2015. Violent crime is classed as a crime involving violence against another person.

This is up 1,328 — 46 per cent — on the figure for the same period 12 months earlier.

Crime overall in the town is up eight per cent on last year — a much larger increase than the three per cent recorded nationally.

Sir Peter Fahy, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said increases in violent crime showed a "worrying trend", which is placing huge demand on a reducing number of staff.

He said that many more cases are being brought to court, but keeping on top of this has become "more and more challenging".

In Bolton, there were 18,939 crimes recorded in the 12 months ending in March, 2015, up 1,403 — or eight per cent — on the year before.

Sexual offences also rose by 59 per cent for the year ending March, 2015.

There were 346 crimes recorded for the year ending March, 2014, and 550 this year, an increase of 204.

The figures have been released shortly after three armed robberies in Bolton in 11 days.

But, they show that robberies dropped by 20 per cent from 255 to 204 over the course of the year.

Burglaries of all kinds dropped by six per cent to 2,538, while there was a 21 per cent reduction in drugs offences, which fell to 521 from 657.

Sir Peter Fahy said: “This increase in recorded violent crimes is showing some worrying trends and placing huge demand and risk on a reducing number of staff.

"Many of these incidents are complex with vulnerable victims to be protected and dangerous offenders to be brought under control.

"We are bringing many more cases to court but keeping on top of this is getting more and more challenging.”

Cases of criminal damage and arson rose by five per cent, while vehicle crime dropped by nine per cent.

The number of theft cases and incidents involving the possession of weapons in Bolton remained stable.

Bolton's police and crime commissioner Tony Lloyd has urged Prime Minister to stop cuts to policing in view of the rises recorded across Greater Manchester.

Greater Manchester Police has lost more than 1,100 officers since 2010 with more expected to go this year.

Tony said: “The public expect our police to deal with crime – but they also expect them to deal with complex issues such as domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation and the protection of vulnerable people.

"Local people are rightly worried about the cuts to Greater Manchester Police and those concerns are cemented today as official figures show crime continues to rise.

"The chief constable and I remain committed to neighbourhood policing but it’s getting more difficult to put the public’s mind at ease as officer numbers fall and demand on the police service increases.

“So today I call on David Cameron to stop chipping away at the police service, invest in public safety and make sure that policing has the money and the means needed to keep us safe.”