POLICE have vowed to tackle an alarming rise in violent crime.

Despite crime in Richmondshire falling by two per cent overall in the past 12 months, latest figures reveal violent crime has risen by 43 per cent during the same period.

Officers suggest the rise is partly due to more people reporting domestic violence and say the figures are in line with national statistics.

However, incidents of muggings and assaults in Richmond and Catterick Garrison have prompted police to make reducing violent crime a top priority.

Sergeant Mick Griffiths, community safety officer for Richmondshire, said: "We have to get violence down.

"We only have two places for violence, Richmond and Catterick Garrison.

"They are the only places that we actually get violence, apart from domestic."

He said officers would work with the local council, other emergency services, community organisations and schools to combat crime.

Richmondshire police have investigated several serious incidents of violence in recent months.

Last month, a dog walker was slashed across the face with a knife in a daytime robbery.

The 51-year-old man suffered a five-inch wound after he was attacked by two men in Castle Hill, Richmond.

Police also issued security camera pictures of a man wanted in connection with a violent assault in Richmond Market Place, which left the victim unconscious.

In January, a paramedic was left with a dislocated shoulder after being attacked while on duty in Richmond.

The crime figures, revealed at a meeting at Richmond Town Hall this week, show that house burglaries are down by 32 per cent, vehicle crime is down by a third and robbery is down by 30 per cent.

But non-house burglaries, such as break-ins of barns and sheds, have risen by 31 per cent in the district over the last year.

At the meeting, police said measures would be taken to avoid a repeat of the anti-social behaviour that occurred at last year's Richmond Meet festival.

Sgt Griffiths said he would be working with licensees to prevent similar incidents at this year's event, scheduled for the end of May.