Crime levels in Norfolk have surged by almost 4pc with a big increase in the number of violent offences recorded which have increased to an extra 42 a week, according to new police figures.

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Official figures showed overall recorded crime in Norfolk has gone up 3.9pc in the past year with 48267 offences in the year ending September 2016 compared to 46453 crimes the year before.

According to the statistics there has been a 25pc increase in the number of violence without injury offences, which have gone up from 7888 offences to 9888 in the 12 month period, while there has also been a 4.1pc rise in the number of violence with injury offences, from 5099 to 5310.

In total the number of violence against the person offences, equates to an extra 42 crimes a week, but police chiefs have warned the figure is likely to rise further in the coming months as the statistics 'do not properly reflect the significant rise in the number of reports of violence with injury' connected to county line drug networks.

Police have launched Operation Gravity in response to a worrying rise in stabbings in the county, which have seen six serious violent incidents involving knives, including four stabbings with multiple injuries, in recent weeks.

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Norfolk's Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Nick Dean insisted the county remains one of the safest in the country despite the overall rise in crime, and reassured the public that the force would continue its pre-emptive action as part of Operation Gravity to tackle violent crime.

The rise in violence has come as 'no surprise' to Jack Cheung, 41, who was left fighting for his life following a one punch attack in Norwich.

Mr Cheung, who was put in an induced coma at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge after suffering a serious head injury after the unprovoked attack in Upper King Street in July 2014, said: 'I'm not surprised at all really. It seems to have got a little bit worse.'

He added: 'I do feel in terms of violence it has increased as the years have gone by.

'In the old days clubs used to close at 2am but bars shut later and some clubs do still sell cheap drinks and more young people stay out and drink as much as they can. It seems that if you stay out too late you're probably going to be getting involved in an unprovoked attack.'

Mr Cheung, who lives off Reepham Road, Hellesdon, and is a director at the Chung Hing Chinese restaurant in Hellesdon, said he was also punched out in the city a year after the original attack and is now 'more wary' about going out.

As well as a rise in crimes of violence, there have also been increases in sexual offences, up 8.8pc from 1654 to 1799, robbery offences, up 35pc from 251 crimes to 339, and in domestic burglary offences, up 4.5pc from 1402 crimes to 1465.

And while there was also rise in possession of weapons offences, up 26.5pc from 260 offences to 329, there was a fall in theft offences, down 11.5pc from 5558 to 4918 and in drug offences, down 12pc from 2152 to 1891.

T/DCC Dean said: 'As with most Forces there has been a small rise in total police recorded crime for Norfolk, year ending September 2016 of 3.9%, yet the Constabulary remains within the top ten safest counties in the whole country. In fact I am encouraged to see that in some crime categories we have seen a plateau or drop in figures.

'Several crime categories reviewed including criminal damage, arson, public order offences and bicycle theft have seen a fall in figures which can reassure Norfolk's residents that we remain focussed on preventing crimes that have a detrimental impact on their daily lives.

'There has been a rise of 8.8% (increase of 145 crimes in the year) in the number of sexual offences recorded and I'm confident this demonstrates our continuing commitment to work with victims of this type of crime with a focus on partnership working and encouraging people to come forward and have confidence in the police that their account will be taken seriously.

'Although the latest figures released show increases in robbery, possession of weapons and burglary, I believe we remain a safe place in which to work and live. For example, figures show our crime levels are the fourth lowest in the country for domestic burglary. This is still well below the national average and equates to only four a day.

'There has been a rise in robbery, equating to 1.7 extra offences a week and violence against the person offences, equating to an extra 42 offences a week.

'However, with these figures being for the year ending September 2016, violent crime figures in this analysis do not properly reflect the significant rise we are currently seeing in the number of reports of violence with injury, of which a large percentage relate to county lines drugs. Our response under Operation Gravity can reassure residents that the action the Force has already pre-emptively taken to tackle this issue will continue.'

Meanwhile in Suffolk, figures showed that overall recorded crime was up 3.8pc from 42291 to 43907 and in Cambridge crime was also on the rise with offences up 9pc from 47191 to 51638 offences.

Suffolk Police's Deputy Chief Constable Steve Jupp said: 'Overall, Suffolk remains a safe county. We have some of the lowest rates of domestic burglary in England. Drug crime and vehicle offences are also at low levels compared with elsewhere: we've seen a 20 per cent drop in drug crime and around a five per cent drop in vehicle offences. We are working hard to keep Suffolk safe, but we can only do that with the help and support of our communities and partners across the county.

'The rise in some areas of crime that we're seeing in Suffolk is mirrored in increases across the country. We are seeing more rape and serious sexual offences being reported, and of course we are doing everything we can to support victims and to bring offenders to justice. But these figures reflect the fact that victims are increasingly confident about coming forward and reporting these crimes, and that is a critical starting point in giving them support and in stamping out these deeply damaging crimes.

'Although some of the percentage increases may appear high, it's important to understand that this doesn't reflect huge numbers of new crimes. Because Suffolk is such a safe county small rises, regrettable though they are, can look like big increases in percentage terms. The message from Suffolk Police is that by working together we can continue to keep the county safe, and we're grateful for the support of the public which is demonstrated every time we appeal for help to prevent crime or catch criminals.'