Crime has risen over the last year in Carmarthenshire, official police records reveal.

Dyfed-Powys Police recorded 15,883 offences in Carmarthenshire in the 12 months to March, according to the Office for National Statistics.

That was an increase of ​28%​ compared to the previous year, when there were 12,407.

However, at 83.6 crimes per 1,000 people, that was lower than the rate across England and Wales, which stood at 89.3.

Of the crimes recorded in the area over the last 12 months, 524 were sexual offences – an increase of 27% from the year before.

Meanwhile, violent crime has soared in the area, from 5,827 to 7,986 over this period.

One of the main factors behind this increase was the rise in stalking and harassment, which rose by 52%, from 2,688 incidents to 4,090.

And theft offences rose by 14%, with 2,542 incidents recorded in the 12 months to March.

At 13.4 crimes per 1,000 people, that was far lower than the rate across England and Wales, which stood at 25.1.

Crimes recorded in Carmarthenshire included:

  • 524 sexual offences, a rise of 27%
  • 7,986 violent offences, a rise of 37%
  • 1,640 incidents of criminal damage and arson, up 20%
  • 602 drug offences, down 33%
  • 65 possession of weapons such as firearms or knives, a decrease of 22
  • 2,157 public order offences, up 74%
  • 2,542 theft offences, a rise of 14%
  • 4,090 stalking and harassment offences, up 52%