A record number of blackmail offences were reported to police in Bolton last year.

Reports of blackmail totalled 24 in Bolton in 2021, up from 21 the previous year and more than doubling over a five-year period, Home Office figures show.

The crime has been increasing in frequency since 2014-15 in the borough and is now being reported at its highest rate since records began in 2011-12.

Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi said: "It is really concerning to see the instances of blackmail increase over the past few years, doubling in recent times.

“I saw first-hand during my time as a barrister how criminals exploit vulnerable people and we need a real strategy to address this, but also other crimes."

This is following a national trend, as well as falling in line with that of the Greater Manchester region.

The figures show that Greater Manchester Police recorded 1,242 blackmail offences in the year to March – up from 766 in 2020-21, the most since comparable records began.

Across England and Wales, 22,000 such offences were recorded in 2021-22 which is more than double the number before the coronavirus pandemic in 2019-20, and also a record.

Separate figures show that of the 1,201 blackmail cases that were concluded in Greater Manchester, 49 per cent resulted in no suspect being identified, 49 per cent were abandoned due to evidential difficulties and just 1 per cent ended with a charge or summons.

Victim Support said the rise could reflect more crimes or victims feeling more empowered to come forward but warned many still choose not to as they feel embarrassed.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting police by funding crime prevention measures, including equipping police with better technology to help catch more criminals.

"We are working with partners across the criminal justice system to increase the number of cases being charged and prosecuted.”

They added said: “We are supporting police by funding crime prevention measures, including equipping police with better technology to help catch more criminals.

"We are working with partners across the criminal justice system to increase the number of cases being charged and prosecuted.”