violent crime in Brighton and Hove has leapt by 12 per cent - but other major offences are plummeting.

Crime statistics published today show there were 7,069 violent offences in the city in 2005/6, compared with 6,287 the previous year.

Police recorded 28 attacks for every 1,000 people in the 12 months to the end of March. It means Brighton and Hove's rate of violent crime is almost 50 per cent higher than the England and Wales average of 20 offences per 1,000.

Across Sussex violent crime rose by three per cent, from 27,093 offences in 2004/5 to 27,867 in 2005/6.

In several other types of offence, including robbery, burglary and car theft, there has been a significant fall in crime in both Brighton and Hove and the county at large.

In Brighton and Hove sexual offences fell by nine per cent, robbery by 18 per cent and burglary by 33 per cent. Theft of cars and theft from cars fell by more than 20 per cent each. Across Sussex sexual offences were down by eight per cent, robbery by 11 per cent and burglary by 16 per cent.

Overall crime was down by three per cent in the year to the end of March, which meant there were 4,200 fewer victims of crime. Sussex Police said the figures showed the county was getting safer.

Deputy Chief Constable Geoff Williams of Sussex Police said: "People in Sussex should feel reassured crime levels have been moving in the right direction during 2005/06. Crime is down and detections are up."

On the rise in violent crime, Mr Williams said: "Almost half of all violent crime recorded in Sussex relates to low-level incidents where nobody is injured. These numbers can rise as a result of the good, positive policing that has taken place during the year such as our Enough campaign to tackle violence and disorder fuelled by alcohol.

"However, when we count only violent crimes where someone is injured, then the numbers are down 7.5 per cent.

"The message is clear. Sussex is a safe place to live, and getting safer."

Peter Jones, chairman of Sussex Police Authority, said: "This has been the result of a lot of hard, dedicated work