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

Dyfed-Powys Police recorded 10,870 offences in Pembrokeshire in the 12 months to March, according to the Office for National Statistics.

That was an increase of ​27%​ compared to the previous year, when there were 8,578.

However, at 85.8 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, 421 were sexual offences – an increase of 29% from the year before.

Meanwhile, violent crime has soared in the area, from 4,249 to 5,550 over this period.

One of the main factors behind this increase was the rise in stalking and harassment, which rose by 37%, from 1,981 incidents to 2,706.

And theft offences rose by 14%, with 1,423 incidents recorded in the 12 months to March.

At 11.2 crimes per 1,000 people, that was far lower than the rate across England and Wales, which stood at 25.1.

Crimes recorded in Pembrokeshire included:

  • 421 sexual offences, a rise of 29%
  • 5,550 violent offences, a rise of 31%
  • 1,262 incidents of criminal damage and arson, up 14%
  • 380 drug offences, down 12%
  • 57 possession of weapons such as firearms or knives, a decrease of 10
  • 1,557 public order offences, up 69%
  • 1,423 theft offences, a rise of 14%
  • 2,706 stalking and harassment offences, up 37%