The number of people reporting violent crime in Bexley has risen sharply in the past five years.

Since the start of 2012 until the end of 2017 – there has been a 95.7 per cent increase in violent crimes reported to police.

The violent crime figures in the borough have risen each year since 2012.

In 2012 – there were 2,568 ‘violent crimes against a person’ reported in Bexley.

Last year, this figure was almost doubled to 5,027.

News Shopper reported in February how Bexley police was joining with Lewisham and Greenwich forces, as Mayor Sadiq Khan revealed his plan to replace the 32 borough system.

David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, said: " I do have some real concerns on behalf of my constituents about the consequences of merging the police commands.

"In particular response times, experiences elsewhere where this has been piloted and the relationship with the local community in Bexleyheath and Crayford."

Below is a breakdown in violent crimes carried out against a person in Bexley in the last five years:

February 2012 - December 2012: 2,568

January 2013 - December: 2013: 2,751

January 2014 - December 2014: 3,381

January 2015 - December 2015: 3,965

January 2016 - December 2016: 4,434

January 2017 - December 2017: 5,027

Statistics for January 2012 were omitted from the Met Police's Crime Data Dashboard.

Bexley Council declined to comment on the figures.