A rise in the number of violent crimes being reported to the police in Wycombe is a “big concern” for the district’s top police officer.

In the Wycombe district, crime has increased from 7,798 in 2014/15 to 8,390 in 2015/16, according to new figures released by Thames Valley Police this morning.

Overall, crime across the Thames Valley has increased for the first time in ten years, with 129,611 crimes reported from April 2015 until the end of March 2016, compared to 120,948 in the same period in 2014/15.

Wycombe policing area commander, superintendent Ed McLean, said that despite the rise in a number of crimes, he is “pleased with where Wycombe is” in terms of crime compared to other areas.

Violence against the person has seen an increase from 1,392 in 2014/15 to 1,852 in 2015/16, which supt McLean says is a “big concern” but reassured residents that the chances of being a victim of violent crime is “very low.”

And while High Wycombe residents have previously raised concerns over gang crime in the area after a number of high profile incidents, including stabbings, shootings, and drug offences, supt McLean said the town does not have a gang problem.

He said: “Wycombe has no more of a gang problem than any other large market town or city. Gang crime is not something that is a major, day to day incident for us, the incidents are quite few and far between. We have a significant number of police operations where we try and interrupt gang related crimes.”

Reports of sexual offences, including rape, has risen 18.8 per cent from 218 in 2013/4 to 259 in 2015/6 in Wycombe, Supt Ed Mclean has welcomed the increase because it shows “confidence” from victims in coming forward.

And despite an increase in the number of hate crimes reported - 15 per cent from 46 in 2014/5 to 53 in 2015/6 - Supt McLean wants to see this rise even further.

He said: “Hate crime is still under reported in Wycombe and we are working closely with our partners to try and give people confidence to come forward. We want to increase reporting and any increase is seen as a positive.

“I am always content with an increase around hate crime and domestic violence because it shows that people have the confidence to talk to us, so it’s good.

“As a community Wycombe is especially proud of the way people from all faiths, backgrounds and cultures live side by side, and rightly so.

“Division has no place in Wycombe and by reporting to police residents are making it very clear hate crime has no place in our communities.”

Drug trafficking and possession of offensive weapons are also up, with trafficking of drugs (up 34.1 per cent from 44 in 2014/5 to 59 in 2015/6) and possession of an offensive weapon - up 34.5 per cent from 55 in 2014/5 to 74 in 2015/6.

Despite this, domestic burglary has fallen by 16.7 per cent with a total of 50 fewer households experiencing burglaries with 249 in 2015/6 compared to 299 in 2014/5.

Supt McLean said he is “really pleased” burglary, which is a force priority, has dropped and hopes to continue to see a decrease next year.

However, he could not predict whether overall crime is likely to increase again.

He said: “Our focus is on protecting the vulnerable, whether that be elderly people, victims of sexual offences, domestic violence or hate crimes. Most of the things that are a priority for this year will continue to be a priority for us again.

“It is difficult for me to say [if crime will increase], but I want to assure residents that when my officers are faced with an allegation of crime they record it ethically. We are always looking at trends and we do our very best to address that and reduce crime.”