Rise in violent crime offsets police recruitment success

Britain has suffered a steep rise in violent crime, figures to be released today are expected to show.

Britain has suffered a steep rise in violent crime, figures to be released today are expected to show.

Violent crime across the 32 UK police forces is believed to have risen seven percent in the year to September, with a one percent fall in overall crime.

But there is some relief for the Government, with its much vaunted bid to recruit more police officers showing some success.

Figures also due today are expected to show 5,268 officers have joined the force since April, with a record 822 recruited in the past month.

It follows Home Secretary Jack Straw setting aside £1.6 billion in a bid to plug the shortfall in officers.

Nine thousand extra officers have been pledged by the Government by 2004.