Police are concerned about alcohol-related violence

In 2003, there were 28,000 violent crimes reported in Devon and Cornwall, some 76 a day - an increase of 10%. Sex offences increased by 16%.

But there were also big reductions elsewhere and police say they are winning the war on crime.

Domestic burglary across the region was found to be down by 16%, and robbery dropped by 20%.

High visibility

Detective Inspector Paul Northcott said of the decreases: "The figures show a considerable drop in burglary and also in vehicle crime. That's due to a number of initiatives in the force.

"There have been increased high visibility patrols, more use of forensic technology to look at items left at crime scenes, and a number of high-profile operations targeting offenders .

"In these, we have built up profiles against specific offenders, then gone out and arrested them."

But what worries police in particular is alcohol-related violence and that, across the region, sex offences were up 16%.

Plymouth had the biggest increase in sexual crime, with reported offences in the city up by nearly 37%, and only a third of these cases are being solved.

Pat Harvey of Victim Support in Plymouth said: "We've seen an increase in sexual violence, but we think that's because people feel more confident.

Double murder

"It is a difficult to investigate, but we are there, the police are there, the support agencies are there."

There were 16 murders last year, three fewer than the previous year.

Several are still unsolved, such as the double murder of Carol and Graham Fisher, at their garage near Wadebridge on Bonfire Night.

Officers are also still investigating the murder of pensioner Joan Roddam, who was found dead at her home near Delabole three days later.