NEW figures show recorded crime in West Yorkshire has increased by almost a fifth.

But the force said the hike, shown in statistics published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), was largely due to a change in the way incidents are recorded as it was using a more consistent recording process in line with the National Crime Recording Standard.

The figures show overall recorded crime rose by 18.9 per cent in the 12 months from September 2014 to last September but the force estimated that the actual increase was around two per cent, with the rest of due to the administrative changes.

Temporary Deputy Chief Constable John Robins, said: “One of the main reasons for the increase is a change to our recording practices, following recommendations to all Forces from Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary last year.

“We are, of course, working with less money and fewer officers and staff than in previous years. Despite the recent Government spending review being more favourable than expected, we have had to make significant savings and still have further savings to find by 2017.

"We have therefore reviewed resources, to ensure we deliver an even more effective public service, with a focus on investigating safeguarding issues and protecting the most vulnerable in our communities, while maintaining the neighbourhood presence we know that people value."

West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson, said: "It's important to put these latest statistics into context.

"Crime data integrity and the way it is now recorded in West Yorkshire has had, and will continue to have, a significant impact on the recorded crime figures and West Yorkshire has recently been praised by HMIC for the approach we have taken.

"The number of calls being received about crime are not increasing which means the majority of crime increases will be due to changes to crime recording, with the real increase being about two per cent overall.

"We are also still seeing an increased confidence from victims of sexual offences in the number coming forward to report them."

Nationally, the number of rapes and other sex crimes reported to police is at its highest level since current records began.

Sex offences reported to forces in England and Wales rose by 26,606 in the year to September 2015, an increase of 36 per cent on the previous 12 months.

The 43 forces recorded just under 100,000 sex offences in total, the highest figure since the current method of reporting began in 2003.

Police forces also recorded a four per cent increase in gun crimes, the first time firearms offences have risen since 2008. Knife crimes also rose by nine per cent.

Overall, crime reported to police last year increased by six per cent over 2014 to 4.3 million offences, with the ONS attributing it to "a greater proportion of reports of crime being recorded in the last year, following improved compliance with national recording standards by police forces".