Crime figures across the region are set to soar over the coming months - but police chiefs have insisted it's nothing to worry about.

In a major shake-up, by the start of April the recording of crime will be based simply on victims' reports, rather than the current practice of officers needing evidence to prove that an offence has actually occurred.

The introduction of the new system is the result of a joint initiative between major police organisations and the Home Office to provide consistency and more accurate comparisons between forces.

It is likely to lead to an increase in overall recorded crime levels of at least 15 per cent, with the largest rises in categories such as criminal damage and common assault.

Only a minor increase is expected in the recording of house burglary and vehicle crime, based on the experiences of forces which trialled the new system.

North Yorkshire Police has already changed its procedure - and senior figures in the force say the rising crime figures should not cause concern.

Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Lynch, head of North Yorkshire CID, said: "The likely increase in recorded crime is nothing to be afraid of, but will represent an artificial increase caused by the change in recording practices.

"Independent research through the British Crime Survey shows that actual crime levels, both nationally and within North Yorkshire, are falling and have been doing for at least the last five years. In the long term we expect this trend to continue."

North Yorkshire was able to start in January after its computerised incident recording system was audited by the Home Office and found to be reliable.

Other forces in the North-East are making arrangements for the introduction of the national standard, which must be in place by April 1.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: "We are well aware of the guidelines and are working on some sort of plan to deal with it."