ROUND-the-clock drinking has been hailed as a significant factor which led to an almost 10 per cent rise in crime across Kent.

Kent Police say since the introduction of 24-hour drinking, violence in licensed premises rose by more than a fifth.

An increase in police presence across town centres is thought to have encouraged more revellers to report offences.

Overall there were 1,149 violent crime offences reported between October and December last year, an increase of 17.3 per cent, when compared to the same period in 2004.

The force has pledged to target criminals and crime hot-spots to drive down an overall 9.2 per cent rise in crime.

On their hit-list is burglary, vehicle crime, violent crime, and criminal damage. A rise in offences has been reported in all these areas.

In Gravesham, crime has risen by 12.3 per cent.

There was a 55.9 per cent jump in drug offences and a 26.2 per cent increase in violence against the person.

In Dartford, crime increased by 16 per cent, with a 79.7 per cent rise in drug offences and 36.4 per cent increase in sexual crimes.

But the risk of being a victim of crime in Kent is nearly the same as the national average. There were 23.1 crimes per 1,000 people.

And the number of crimes detected and dealt with by criminal proceedings in Kent has risen since 2004.

There were 8,826 offenders charged, cautioned or dealt with for their involvement in 23.7 per cent of recorded crime across Kent.

A jump in the reporting of hate crime and domestic violence has been hailed a success by police, who say these crimes are often under-reported.

Kent Police has been working in communities to encourage people from minority groups and domestic violence victims to come forward.

Assistant Chief Constable David Ainsworth (left) said: "We will be introducing officers into every neighbourhood to work with residents to root out those responsible."

  • Breakdown of Government figures
    The figures are based on Government research for October to December last year.

In this period, robberies rose by 38 offences (12.9 per cent) while sexual offences increased by seven offences (1.6 per cent).

Offences classed as lower level violence, including harassment and those resulting in little or no injury, account for 88.2 per cent of the increase in violent crime.

There was a rise in house burglaries of 14.8 per cent, an increase of 241 offences.

Vehicle crime increased by 5.5 per cent and criminal damage rose by 398 offences.

Drug offences rose by 23.3 per cent to 751 offences, with a rise in the possession of cannabis largely responsible for this.