New police figures show recorded crime in Devon and Cornwall has risen by about a third in the past nine months - with the biggest increase in violent crime.

Between April 2002 and the end of January, more than 110,000 incidents were reported, compared with 84,000 the previous year.

Victim support groups say they have noticed increases in the number of cases they deal with.

Police say the increases are because all reported incidents are now included in the statistics.

We are aware that violent crime is rising slightly, and we find it tends to involve young people Victim Support, Plymouth

The biggest rise is in violent assaults, which have nearly tripled from more than 5,000 between April 2001 and January 2002, to nearly 15,000 in the past nine months.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Constabulary said most of the increase was down to the change in how crimes are recorded.

The new National Crime Recording Standard requires all incidents reported to be included.

In the past, many incidents were not if the victim did not want to take further action.

Police also say they are encouraging people to report racial assaults and domestic violence.

A spokeswoman for the charity Victim Support in Plymouth said: "We are aware that violent crime is rising slightly, and we find it tends to involve young people and alcohol.

"But more people are being encouraged to report domestic violence.

"It shows that people feel they are being taken seriously. It is important that people feel confident that they can report these and racist incidents."

Damage increase

However, the figures show fewer murders, which decreased from 17 to 14 over the measured period.

There was also a drop in cheque and credit card fraud of some 3.8%

But drugs offences increased from 3,400 to 3,800, and criminal damage was up from 8,800 reported cases to nearly 13,000.

Devon and Cornwall Police Authority will discuss the figures on Friday and says it is to continue consultations with the public over policing in the force area.