Recorded crime in Cornwall and Devon has risen by a third since last year.

The latest figures from the police authority show the force dealt with just over 80,000 offences, compared with just under 60,000 last year.

But Devon and Cornwall Police Authority say despite the figures, crime is going down in the two counties.

They say the new crime recording procedures mean that all incidents reported to the police, must be made the subject of a crime report.

We are still one of the safest parts of the country to live

Brian Greenslade

Officers say it does not take into account a number of factors, including that the victim may not want to take further action.

Brian Greenslade, chairman of the police authority, said: "We have to accept that is the way figures are recorded now, but I want to reassure the public that there has not been an explosion in crime.

"We are still one of the safest parts of the country to live."

In the two counties, sexual offences rose by more than a quarter to 724 recorded incidents.

More officers

Violent crime also went up from 3783 to 10,882 offences.

The police authority is also in line for a 3% increase in the force budget next year.

The Home Office says the cash will fund more police on the beat - along with improved pay and conditions and state of the art communications.

Rural policing

The total budget for 2003/4 will be about �161.4m.

There will also be an extra �3.1m from a special rural policing fund.

Other forces are getting bigger increases than Devon and Cornwall.

The English Metropolitan forces are all getting 4.9%, as are places like Northamptonshire, Cleveland and Bedfordshire.