KNIFE crime in Lancashire rose by 33 per cent over the last year, the latest figures show.

Nationally offences involving knives or sharp objects hit record high levels, with Barnardo's chief executive Javed Khan saying it was a disgrace the crisis continues unabated.

The data from the Office of National Statistics Incidents , which covers the 12 months up to March 2019, showed that there were 1,151 incidents in Lancashire which was up from 867.

Lancashire Police said its figures had risen because of more accurate recording and because victims were more confident in coming forward.

The spokesman said: "While we continue to see increases in levels of recorded crime, most of these increases are the result of our more accurate recording of crimes, and some a shift in the type of crime we now investigate.

“We recognise that increases in areas like violent crime will cause concern and we continue to work with our communities and partners to provide reassurance and reduce offences of this type. A considerable part of this increase is the move of incidents previously recorded as anti-social behaviour into public order and violent offending categories.

“Some of the increases, while they may cause some worry, show the increased confidence of victims to report incidents and crimes to us.

“We have also increased our awareness of exploitation and vulnerability, which means we are actively unearthing more, previously unseen, crime. This is in line with our commitment to tackle exploitation and safeguard victims, working increasingly closely with our local partner agencies to do so.

“Our commitment to this area was recognised in April this year when Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) praised the force for our approach to child protection.

“We will continue to invest in this work in the coming years, focusing on vulnerability, violence reduction reduction and improving digital policing to meet increasing levels of complex demand.”

Nationally police recorded 43,516 offences involving knives or sharp objects in the year to March 2019, the highest since comparable records began in 2011.

There was a rise of 3,301 knife crime offences from 2017/18, with the volume of offences up 42 per cent since the year ending March 2011.

Those figures, however, don't include incidents from Greater Manchester Police, which records it differently.

Commenting on the figures, Mr Khan said: "It's unacceptable that the knife crime crisis continues unabated with offences at record levels. Children are not born with knives in their hands, knife crime is a symptom of a much bigger problem.

"Our frontline support services say vulnerable children and young people are being recruited and exploited by criminal gangs and forced to traffic drugs and carry knives.

"Urgent action must be taken so that future generations are not condemned to live in an endless spiral of violence."

Home Office figures, released separately, showed the proportion of crimes in England and Wales resulting in a charge or summons fell to the lowest level in 2018/19 since data began to be recorded in 2015. The rate fell from 403,221 or 9.1 per cent in the previous year to 403,221 or 7.8 per cent in the 12 months to March 2019, continuing a downward trend since 2015 when the rate was 15.5 per cent.

Policing minister Nick Hurd said: "While the chances of being a victim of crime remain low, we are deeply concerned that certain offences, including serious violence, have increased and we are taking urgent action. Police funding is increasing by more than £1 billion this year, including council tax and £100 million for forces worst affected by violent crime.

"I am encouraged to see officer numbers increasing, and that police and crime commissioners have committed to recruiting over 3,700 additional officers and staff this year.

"We are also acting to address the root causes of violence and stop young people being drawn into crime in the first place. This week we announced a new legal duty for public bodies to work together to prevent and tackle serious violence as part of our public health approach."